title: Perinatal factors and the risk of atopic dermatitis: a cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the effects of pregnancy and early events in the newborn on the risk of subsequent atopic dermatitis (AD) during the first year of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective multicenter cohort study of newborns during the first year of life. Newborns identified on random days in three obstetrics departments in the area of Bergamo, Lombardy, Northern Italy, were eligible. At baseline, the mothers were interviewed by medical staff during their stay in hospital after delivery. At 6 and 12 months after delivery, a postal questionnaire was sent to the parents. Relative risks were calculated with and without adjustment by multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1081 newborns entered the study: 796 (74%) parents answered the 12-month questionnaire. Hundred and thirty-eight (17%) reported a diagnosis of AD at 6 months and 222 (28%) at 12 months. Parental history of AD and/or asthma was associated with an increased risk of AD (RR 1.5, 95%CI 1.1-2.0). Birth weight was slightly associated with an increased risk of AD: RR 1.04, 95%CI 1.001-1.08 (continuous variable, increment of 100 grams). No association emerged between breast feeding, smoking, and risk of AD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study in an Italian offspring cohort points to family history of atopic diseases and body weight at birth as relevant risk factors. The study was unable to document associations with other perinatal factors particularly breast feeding and parental smoking in the perinatal period.
authors: Centro Studi GISED, Bergamo, Italy.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Parazzini
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Cipriani
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Zinetti
authors: Liliane
authors: L
authors: Chatenoud
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Frigerio
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Amuso
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Ciammella
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Di Landro
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Naldi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: atopic dermatitis; birth weight; breast feeding; risk factors