Poor Air Quality Linked to AD Risk in Offspring

Edited By Deepa Varma

TOPLINE: 

Children are at increased risk for atopic dermatitis (AD) after exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) during late pregnancy and early infancy.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a birth cohort study of 564,869 term births between 2004 and 2013 with follow-up until age 5 years.
• PM2.5 exposure was evaluated using a satellite-based model that integrated aerosol optical depth, meteorological data, and land-use information.
• The mean weekly PM2.5 concentrations during prenatal and postnatal periods were 34.24 μg/m³ and 33.99 μg/m³, respectively.
• Study outcome was diagnosis of AD.

TAKEAWAY:

• A total of 76,944 children (13.6%) were diagnosed with AD.
• A 10 µg/m≥ increase in PM2.5 during prenatal (hazard ratio [HR], 1.07; P < .01) and postnatal (HR, 1.09; P < .01) periods was associated with a higher incidence of AD.
• PM2.5 exposure above 65 µg/m≥ was linked to a sharp increase in the risk for AD.
• The risk for AD was significantly higher during late gestation and early infancy periods.

IN PRACTICE:

“Our study indicates that prenatal and postnatal exposure to PM_2.5 is associated with later development of AD. The susceptible time windows may be during late gestation and early life after birth,” the authors say, adding that pregnant women and children should avoid the outdoors when PM_2.5 levels exceed 65 μg/m³. 

SOURCE:

The study was led by Lih-Hwa Lin, An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan. It was published online on February 26 in the British Journal of Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS: 

Associations between specific fine particulate matter compositions, sources, sizes, and AD were not evaluated because information was lacking. Some unmeasured confounding factors could be present.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan and An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan. The authors reported no relevant financial relationships.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.