Maternal stress and allergic disease in offspring

The theory of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), hypothesize that diseases like allergy is formed in-utero and early life by interaction between adverse environmental factors and genetic predisposition. The study population in this thesis consists of mother-child pairs from the PreventADALL cohort. The overall aim of this doctoral thesis was to evaluate maternal pre- and postpartum stress and the risk of abdominal pain and allergic disease in offspring. In Study 1, the proportion of maternal perceived stress at 18- and 34-weeks was described and the association between symptoms of allergic disease and maternal perceived stress explored in n=2164 pregnant mothers. Study 2 described the prevalence of infant colic, abdominal pain and other pain and discomforts in n=1852 infants at 3 months age and perinatal factors associated with the abdominal outcomes. The correlation between maternal perceived stress in pregnancy and postpartum, maternal saliva cortisol and infant saliva cortisol (n=1057) was explored in study 3. Finally, Study 4 investigated if maternal perceived stress during pregnancy or postpartum were associated with infant allergic sensitization at 12 months age (n=1757). Results from Study 1 showed that maternal stress was reported by 15 % of the mothers at 18 weeks and 13% at 34 weeks. Symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and food allergy reported by the mother were associated with high perceived stress and increased stress in the third trimester. Infant colic was reported in n=59 infants, abdominal pain in n=115 and other pain and discomforts in n=119 infants at 3 months age. High maternal perceived stress was not associated with any of the abdominal and pain symptoms. Neither were the infant saliva cortisol levels at 3 months age (Study 3). Furthermore, maternal perceived stress during pregnancy and postpartum and maternal saliva cortisol at 18 weeks were not correlated, neither were infant saliva cortisol levels (n=1057). In Study 4, infants and their mothers with perceived stress were included. The maternal stress in pregnancy and postpartum were not associated with infant sensitization (n=139) at 12 months age. Conclusion: Symptoms of allergic disease can be stressful for mothers in pregnancy. Abdominal pain is a common symptom in 3-month-old infants. Maternal stress in pregnancy is not a risk-factor for abdominal pain, other pain and discomforts or infant colic. Maternal perceived stress in pregnancy and postpartum does not correlate with neither maternal cortisol in pregnancy nor infant cortisol at 3 months age. Maternal stress in pregnancy and postpartum is not associated with allergic sensitization in their offspring at 12 months of age. These findings could be an important information to communicate to the mothers who experience stress during pregnancy. The knowledge that maternal stress does not affect colic, abdominal pain, or allergic sensitization could relieve the mother

Prevalence and perinatal risk factors of parent-reported colic, abdominal pain and other pain or discomforts in infants until 3 months of age - A prospective cohort study in PreventADALL

Aims and objectives To estimate the prevalence and perinatal risk factors associated with parent reported colic, abdominal pain and pain or other discomforts in infants until 3 months of age. Background Infant colic is a common concern for parents and clinicians. The prevalence varies in different studies and its symptoms overlap with other conditions like abdominal pain and discomfort. Diagnosis criteria are challenging, pathogenesis unclear and risk factors are conflicting. Design This was a prospective cohort study. Methods The 1852 mother–child pairs from the PreventADALL prospective birth-cohort answering the 3 months questionnaire were included. Information on perinatal risk factors was collected from the inclusion visit and questionnaires during pregnancy at 18 and 34 weeks, as well as birth charts. STROBE checklist was followed. Results The reported prevalence of colic was 3% (59/1852), abdominal pain 22% (415/1852) and pain or other discomfort 6% (119/1852), with a total of 26% (478/1852) infants. Mothers on sick leave in pregnancy and reporting any allergic diseases had a significantly higher odds of reporting infant colic, abdominal pain and pain or other discomforts. Mothers with higher perceived stress in pregnancy exhibited a trend towards higher odds for reporting infant pain. Mothers coming from Sweden were less likely to report infant abdominal pain compared to mothers from Norway. Conclusions The prevalence of abdominal pain and pain or other discomforts was higher than the prevalence of colic. Perinatal risk factors connected to maternal health were associated with all three symptoms. Relevance to clinical practice Colic and abdominal pain are stressful, symptoms overlap and risk factors for both can be identified in pregnancy. Our study suggests that it is difficult for parents to distinguish among infant colic, abdominal pain and other pain or discomfort and some report two or all three symptoms. Identifying the perinatal risk factors associated with infant pain may help target and support parents

Prevalence and perinatal risk factors of parent-reported colic, abdominal pain and other pain or discomforts in infants until 3 months of age - A prospective cohort study in PreventADALL

Aims and objectives: To estimate the prevalence and perinatal risk factors associated with parent reported colic, abdominal pain and pain or other discomforts in infants until 3 months of age. Background: Infant colic is a common concern for parents and clinicians. The prevalence varies in different studies and its symptoms overlap with other conditions like abdominal pain and discomfort. Diagnosis criteria are challenging, pathogenesis unclear and risk factors are conflicting. Design: This was a prospective cohort study. Methods: The 1852 mother–child pairs from the PreventADALL prospective birth-cohort answering the 3 months questionnaire were included. Information on perinatal risk factors was collected from the inclusion visit and questionnaires during pregnancy at 18 and 34 weeks, as well as birth charts. STROBE checklist was followed. Results: The reported prevalence of colic was 3% (59/1852), abdominal pain 22% (415/1852) and pain or other discomfort 6% (119/1852), with a total of 26% (478/1852) infants. Mothers on sick leave in pregnancy and reporting any allergic diseases had a significantly higher odds of reporting infant colic, abdominal pain and pain or other discomforts. Mothers with higher perceived stress in pregnancy exhibited a trend towards higher odds for reporting infant pain. Mothers coming from Sweden were less likely to report infant abdominal pain compared to mothers from Norway. Conclusions: The prevalence of abdominal pain and pain or other discomforts was higher than the prevalence of colic. Perinatal risk factors connected to maternal health were associated with all three symptoms. Relevance to clinical practice: Colic and abdominal pain are stressful, symptoms overlap and risk factors for both can be identified in pregnancy. Our study suggests that it is difficult for parents to distinguish among infant colic, abdominal pain and other pain or discomfort and some report two or all three symptoms. Identifying the perinatal risk factors associated with infant pain may help target and support parents

Prevalence and perinatal risk factors of parent-reported colic, abdominal pain and other pain or discomforts in infants until 3 months of age - A prospective cohort study in PreventADALL

Aims and objectives: To estimate the prevalence and perinatal risk factors associated with parent reported colic, abdominal pain and pain or other discomforts in infants until 3 months of age. Background: Infant colic is a common concern for parents and clinicians. The prevalence varies in different studies and its symptoms overlap with other conditions like abdominal pain and discomfort. Diagnosis criteria are challenging, pathogenesis unclear and risk factors are conflicting. Design: This was a prospective cohort study. Methods: The 1852 mother–child pairs from the PreventADALL prospective birthcohort answering the 3 months questionnaire were included. Information on perinatal risk factors was collected from the inclusion visit and questionnaires during pregnancy at 18 and 34 weeks, as well as birth charts. STROBE checklist was followed. Results: The reported prevalence of colic was 3% (59/1852), abdominal pain 22% (415/1852) and pain or other discomfort 6% (119/1852), with a total of 26% (478/1852) infants. Mothers on sick leave in pregnancy and reporting any allergic diseases had a significantly higher odds of reporting infant colic, abdominal pain and pain or other discomforts. Mothers with higher perceived stress in pregnancy exhibited a trend towards higher odds for reporting infant pain. Mothers coming from Sweden were less likely to report infant abdominal pain compared to mothers from Norway. Conclusions: The prevalence of abdominal pain and pain or other discomforts was higher than the prevalence of colic. Perinatal risk factors connected to maternal health were associated with all three symptoms. Relevance to clinical practice: Colic and abdominal pain are stressful, symptoms overlap and risk factors for both can be identified in pregnancy. Our study suggests that it is difficult for parents to distinguish among infant colic, abdominal pain and other pain or discomfort and some report two or all three symptoms. Identifying the perinatal risk factors associated with infant pain may help target and support parents

Impaired skin barrier and allergic sensitization in early infancy

Background: Factors predicting allergic sensitization in the first 6 months of life are poorly understood. We aimed to determine whether eczema, dry skin, and high transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at 3 months were associated with allergic sensitization at 6 months of age and, secondarily, to establish whether these characteristics predicted sensitization from 3 to 6 months of age. Methods: At 3 months of age, 1,994 infants from the population-based PreventADALL birth cohort in Norway and Sweden were assessed for eczema and dry skin on the cheeks and/or extensors; impaired skin barrier function, defined as TEWL in the upper quartile (>9.4 g/m(2)/h), and allergen-specific IgE levels <0.1 kU(A)/L, available in 830. At 6 months, we assessed allergic sensitization to any food (egg, cow's milk, peanut, wheat, soy) or inhalant (birch, timothy grass, dog, and cat) allergen by a skin prick test wheal diameter >= 2 mm larger than negative control. Results: Any sensitization was found in 198 of the 1,994 infants (9.9%), the majority to food allergens (n = 177, 8.9%). Eczema, dry skin, and high TEWL at 3 months increased the risk of sensitization at 6 months; adjusted odds ratios 4.20 (95% CI 2.93-6.04), 2.09 (95% CI 1.51-2.90) and 3.67 (95% CI 2.58-5.22), respectively. Eczema predicted sensitization with 55.6% sensitivity and 68.1% specificity; dry skin with 65.3% sensitivity and 57.3% specificity; and high TEWL with 61.7% sensitivity and 78.1% specificity. Conclusion: Eczema, dry skin, and high TEWL at 3 months predicted allergic sensitization at 6 months of age

Maternal stress, early life factors and infant salivary cortisol levels

Background: Salivary cortisol (SC), a commonly used biomarker for stress, may be disrupted by negative events in pregnancy, at birth and in infancy. We aimed to explore if maternal perceived stress (PSS) in or after pregnancy and SC levels in pregnancy were associated with SC in early infancy, and, secondly, to identify early life factors associated with infants’ SC levels (iSC). Methods: At 3 months of age, SC was analyzed in 1057 infants participating in a Nordic prospective mother-child birth cohort study. Maternal PSS was available from questionnaires at 18- and 34-week gestational age (GA) and 3-month post-partum, and SC was analyzed at 18-week GA. Early life factors included sociodemographic and infant feeding from questionnaires, and birth data from medical charts. Associations to iSC were analyzed by Spearman correlation and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results: In this exploratory study neither PSS at any time point nor maternal SC (mSC) were associated with iSC. Higher birth weight was associated with higher levels of iSC, while inverse associations were observed in infants to a mother not living with a partner and mixed bottle/breastfeeding. Conclusions: Maternal stress was not associated with iSC levels, while birth weight, single motherhood and infant feeding may influence iSC levels

Maternal Stress, Early Life Factors and Infant Salivary Cortisol Levels

Background: Salivary cortisol (SC), a commonly used biomarker for stress, may be disrupted by negative events in pregnancy, at birth and in infancy. We aimed to explore if maternal perceived stress (PSS) in or after pregnancy and SC levels in pregnancy were associated with SC in early infancy, and, secondly, to identify early life factors associated with infants’ SC levels (iSC). Methods: At 3 months of age, SC was analyzed in 1057 infants participating in a Nordic prospective mother-child birth cohort study. Maternal PSS was available from questionnaires at 18- and 34-week gestational age (GA) and 3-month post-partum, and SC was analyzed at 18-week GA. Early life factors included sociodemographic and infant feeding from questionnaires, and birth data from medical charts. Associations to iSC were analyzed by Spearman correlation and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results: In this exploratory study neither PSS at any time point nor maternal SC (mSC) were associated with iSC. Higher birth weight was associated with higher levels of iSC, while inverse associations were observed in infants to a mother not living with a partner and mixed bottle/breastfeeding. Conclusions: Maternal stress was not associated with iSC levels, while birth weight, single motherhood and infant feeding may influence iSC levels