title: Maternal fecundity and asthma among offspring-is the risk programmed preconceptionally? Retrospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between maternal fecundity factors and time to pregnancy and risk of asthma in offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational hospital-based birth cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-based obstetrics and gynecology department.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40,914 women, who delivered between 1989 and 2007, were linked with the register for asthma reimbursement (n = 2,577) for their offspring. Fecundity factors were recorded during pregnancy. Logistic regression analyses were used.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Asthma among offspring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of asthma was significantly increased if the mother had any infertility problems (adjusted odds ratio [adjusted OR] 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.63), medical infertility treatment (aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.13-1.80), or any infertility treatment (aOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.26-1.79). The risk of asthma among offspring was also higher among mothers who had more than two miscarriages (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.04-1.51) and time to pregnancy over 3 months (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.07-1.45).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that maternal subfertility exposes offspring to an increased risk of asthma.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The study is registered in Kuopio University Hospital register (TUTKI): ID 5302448.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. maija.harju@kuh.fi
authors.forename: Maijakaisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harju
authors.forename: Leea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keski-Nisula
authors.forename: Kaisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raatikainen
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pekkanen
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heinonen
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D050498:Live Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult