Rapid BMI increase associated with greater asthma risk

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Rapid increases of BMI in the first year of life may be associated with greater odds for a child developing asthma by age 8 years, according to data recently presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting.

“Pediatricians are very focused on promoting proper growth for preterm infants after they come home from the hospital,” Mandy B. Belfort, MD, PhD, of the division of newborn medicine at the Children’s Hospital Boston, told Healio Allergy. “Our study looked at how patterns of early growth relate to the chance of having a diagnosis of asthma at school age.”

Mandy B. Belfort

The researchers studied patients (n=863) in the Infant Health and Development Program, consisting of preterm (≤37 weeks), low birth weight (≤2,500 g) infants after birth and followed them though childhood. The median gestational age was 34 weeks, and 149 (17%) had a diagnosis of asthma at 8 years, according to data.

The odds of asthma at age 8 years was higher for each additional z score gain in BMI from term to 4 months (OR=1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.5).

“We were surprised that we did not see a relationship between infant linear growth and later asthma, because it is believed commonly that good nutrition helps the lungs grow and develop, and linear growth to some extent reflects good nutrition,” Belfort said. “Another important finding was that a more rapid increase in BMI (which indicates excess weight gain) was associated with a higher risk of later asthma.”

Belfort told Healio Allergy that clinicians should carefully monitor the weight and length of preterm infants after they come home from the NICU.

“Based on this study and some of our prior work on obesity and cognitive function, gaining weight too quickly does not appear to be beneficial, and may even be harmful,” Belfort said. – by Samantha Costa

For more information:

Belfort M. #3846.726. Presented at: PAS 2014; May 2-6; Vancouver, British Columbia.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.