Prenatal Maternal Depression Related to Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis in the first 5 Years of Life in Children of the EDEN Mother-Child Cohort Study

Abstract

Backgroud:Evidence about the relationship between prenatal maternal depression and the development of childhood asthma and allergies in early life is scarce. We aimed to examine this relationship by using data set of EDEN mother-child cohort study. A total of 1139 children were followed-up until the age of 5 years.Methods:Prenatal maternal depression was self-reported by using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) questionnaire and was classified into binary variable (maternal depression [CES-D score of ≥16] and no maternal depression [CES-D score of <16]). Asthma and allergies in the first 5 years were assessed by using the questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was estimated for the relationship between prenatal maternal depression and early life asthma and allergies by marginal models through the method of generalized estimating equation (GEE) when adjusting for the confounders.Results:In our study population, 13.67 % of the mothers had clinical significant depression (the total scores for CES-D ≥16) during pregnancy. For children ages 5 years, the prevalence of wheezing, physician-diagnosed asthma, physician-diagnosed eczema and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis were 46.78, 20.99, 29.17, and 22.54%, respectively. Prenatal maternal depression was associated with ever allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (aOR 1.87 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.33–2.62]). No significant relationships were found between prenatal maternal depression and wheezing, physician-diagnosed asthma and physician-diagnosed eczema (aOR 1.12 [95% CI, 0.91–1.39], aOR 1.23 [95% CI, 0.81–1.85] and aOR 1.17 [95% CI, 0.86–1.61], respecitvely).Conclusion:Prenatal maternal depression was related to ever allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in the first 5 years of life in children of EDEN mother-child cohort study.

European task force on atopic dermatitis position paper: treatment of parental atopic dermatitis during preconception, pregnancy and lactation period

“…Interestingly, some studies have indicated that maternal stress during pregnancy may play a significant role in the development of AD in offspring. It is possible that in cases where pregnant women suffer not only from AD but also from depression or psychosomatic disorders, the offspring have a significantly higher risk of developing AD up to the age of 18–20 years . Possible psycho‐immunological pathways are changes in cytokine levels or oxidative stress transferred by the placenta .…”

“…It is possible that in cases where pregnant women suffer not only from AD but also from depression or psychosomatic disorders, the offspring have a significantly higher risk of developing AD up to the age of 18-20 years. [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Possible psycho-immunological pathways are changes in cytokine levels 21 or oxidative stress transferred by the placenta. 35 Psychosocial job strain in general and alcohol intake during pregnancy in particular 36,37 are significant risk factors for AD development in offspring, with alcohol intake being the most prominent risk factor.…”

Association between prenatal depressive symptoms and eczema in infants: The Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study

“…Few studies have assessed the relationship between maternal depression during pregnancy and children's eczema at early age, and these studies only assessed maternal depression at a single time point 12‐16 . Three of these previous studies showed no association between prenatal depressive symptoms at the second trimester and children's eczema, 12,15,16 while the other three reported positive associations when the maternal depressive symptoms were assessed at the third trimester 13,14 . To some extent, the difference could be due to the different exposure windows and methods of assessment of depressive symptoms or children's eczema.…”

“…11 However, whether prenatal depression increases the risk of offspring's eczema is unclear due to conflicting results. [12][13][14][15][16] Such discrepancies may, in part, be explained by the differences in exposure window to depression, as exposure to stressors during the third trimester may be more relevant to the children's eczema risk than the second trimester. 9 However, other factors such as definition and classification of stressors such as depression, major life events, 17 and perceived stress, 16 as well as variations in duration of exposure to stressors, may also explain these differences since many studies only rely on single-time point measurement.…”

“…Eczema, thought to be an early onset of allergic diseases, 7 is a very common chronic skin disease among children, 10 leading to loss in quality of life and substantial medical care burden 11 . However, whether prenatal depression increases the risk of offspring's eczema is unclear due to conflicting results 12‐16 . Such discrepancies may, in part, be explained by the differences in exposure window to depression, as exposure to stressors during the third trimester may be more relevant to the children's eczema risk than the second trimester 9 .…”