title: Weight gain in the first two years of life, asthma and atopy: the SCAALA cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between weight gain in the first two years of life and the occurrence of wheezing, asthma, serum IgE, skin reactivity and pulmonary function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The metropolitan region of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  The association was studied between 1997 and 2005 in 669 children up to 11 years of age. Data were collected on asthma and risk factors, both current factors and those present in the first years of life. Weight gain was considered fast when the Z-score was >0·67. Poisson regression was used in the multivariate statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wheezing was reported in 25·6 % of the children. Weight gain was considered fast (Z-score >0·67) in 29·6 % of the children and slow (Z-score <-0·67) in 13·9 %. Children in the slow weight gain group had 36 % fewer symptoms of asthma (prevalence ratio = 0·65; 95 % CI 0·42, 0·99).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Slower weight gain in the early years of life may constitute a protective factor against symptoms of asthma. The relevance of this finding for public health is not yet certain, since it is known that children with slow and fast weight gain may be more likely to develop adverse health consequences related to both these situations.
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Collective Health,Federal University of Bahia,Rua Basílio da Gama s/n°,Campus Universitário do Canela,5° andar,40110-040 Salvador,Bahia,Brazil.
authors.forename: Sheila M A
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: 2Division of Epidemiology and Collective Health,Multidisciplinary Health Unit,Federal University of Bahia,Salvador,Bahia,Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Jesus
authors.affiliation: 3Institute of Health,São Paulo State Department of Health,São Paulo,São Paulo,Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia R D M
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Saldiva
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Collective Health,Federal University of Bahia,Rua Basílio da Gama s/n°,Campus Universitário do Canela,5° andar,40110-040 Salvador,Bahia,Brazil.
authors.forename: Matildes S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Collective Health,Federal University of Bahia,Rua Basílio da Gama s/n°,Campus Universitário do Canela,5° andar,40110-040 Salvador,Bahia,Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Innocenzo
authors.affiliation: 4School of Nutrition,Federal University of Bahia,Salvador,Bahia,Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana M O
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.affiliation: 5Department of Epidemiology and Population Health,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,London,UK.
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: 6Health Sciences Institute,Federal University of Bahia,Salvador,Bahia,Brazil.
authors.forename: Neuza M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Alcantara-Neves
authors.affiliation: 7ProAR,School of Medicine,Federal University of Bahia,Salvador,Bahia,Brazil.
authors.forename: Alvaro A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: 8Center for Biological and Health Sciences,Department of Medicine,Federal University of Sergipe,Aracaju,Sergipe,Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia de Magalhães
authors.initials: Sde M
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: 9Statistics Department,Federal University of Bahia,Salvador,Bahia,Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosemeire L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Fiaccone
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Collective Health,Federal University of Bahia,Rua Basílio da Gama s/n°,Campus Universitário do Canela,5° andar,40110-040 Salvador,Bahia,Brazil.
authors.forename: Maurício L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barreto
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007843:Latin America; D016015:Logistic Models; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E