Exposure to psychosocial job strain during pregnancy and odds of asthma and atopic dermatitis among 7-year old children – a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Exposure to psychosocial job strain during pregnancy and odds of asthma and atopic dermatitis among 7-year old children -a prospective cohort study by Larsen AD, Schlünssen V, Christensen BH, Bonde JP, Obel C, Thulstrup AM, Hannerz H, Hougaard KS Literature suggests a relationship between maternal stress exposure and risk of asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD) among children; so far no studies have focused on maternal job strain. Based on the prospective Danish National Birth Cohort, results show: maternal exposure to high strain jobs was associated with AD, whereas active jobs were associated with asthma among 7-year old children. Affiliation 639Original article Scand J Work Environ Health. 2014;40(6):639-648. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3452 Exposure to psychosocial job strain during pregnancy and odds of asthma and atopic dermatitis among 7-year old children -a prospective cohort study Objectives Few epidemiological studies have studied maternal stress exposure during pregnancy and odds of asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD) among offspring, and none have extended the focus to psychosocial job strain. The aim of this study was to assess the association between maternal job strain during pregnancy and asthma as well as AD among 7-year-old children. MethodsThe study is based on the Danish National Birth Cohort and includes prospective data from 32 104 pregnancies. Job strain was assessed early in pregnancy by use of two questions on demands and control. We categorized participants into four job strain categories: low strain (low demands, high control), active (high demands, high control), passive (low demands, low control), and high strain (high demands, low control). Information on asthma and AD until age seven was collected using maternal self-report. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) adjusted for several covariates.Results Maternal exposure to self-reported high strain during pregnancy was associated with 15% higher odds of atopic dermatitis among 7-year-old children (OR adj 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.31). Furthermore, an association between the active jobs and asthma among 7-year-old children was found (OR adj 1.13, 95% CI 1.03-1.24). ConclusionMaternal exposure to high strain and active jobs during pregnancy was associated with asthma and atopic dermatitis among 7-year-old children.

Prenatal antibiotics and atopic dermatitis among 18‐month‐old children in the Danish National Birth Cohort

“…The human microbiome is established in utero and during the first 2-3 years of life and several environmental factors including conditions during the prenatal period, mode of delivery, antibiotic use, breastfeeding and household environment play a key role in this process. 6,7 Atopic dermatitis is often referred to as the first manifestation of the "atopic march" followed by food allergy, asthma and allergic rhinitis occurring throughout childhood and adolescence. 2,4,5 The prevalence of atopic dermatitis has increased rapidly during the last 30-40 years and now affects up to 15%-20% of children in affluent countries.…”

Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis

“…A recent systematic review identified six observational human studies that examined the relationship between maternal stress during pregnancy and development of childhood AD [131]. Five of six studies found significant associations of stress and strain related to employment and adverse life events with AD at ages 6 and 14 years [46][47][48][49][50]; one of these studies found that only maternal stress during the second and third trimesters was associated with increased risk of AD [47]. The sixth study found an association between maternal stress and AD in the first 2 years of life [51].…”

Prenatal Maternal Distress and Allergic Diseases in Offspring: Review of Evidence and Possible Pathways

“…A total of 20 studies were chosen:345678910111213141516171819202122 17 prospective cohort studies 3456891011121314151819202122 and 3 national registry studies 71617. Most studies used general population samples, although not all were nationally representative.…”

“…Most studies used general population samples, although not all were nationally representative. Prenatal maternal distress had a close association with wheezing/asthma in 17 studies346789101112131415161718192122 and atopic dermatitis in 5 studies 511122022. Two studies reported good relationships with both asthma and atopic dermatitis 1122.…”