Maternal asthma and lung function, childhood asthma and growth, the MAESTRO-Child study

Aim Maternal asthma is associated with childhood asthma and low birthweight. We investigated whether maternal asthma, allergic asthma and lung function are associated with childhood asthma and growth. Method Data from a Swedish pregnancy cohort, [Maternal Asthma Events Stress and Offspring (MAESTRO)] was linked to data from the children [MAESTRO-Child] and to national health registers [529 mother/child pairs]. Pre- and post-bronchodilator FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC and bronchodilator response were measured in pregnancy. Maternal asthma, childhood asthma and childhood growth [at birth, 6, 12, 18, and 36 months] were defined from self/parent-reported questionnaires and/or register data. Maternal allergic asthma was defined as asthma and allergic sensitisation [positive PhadiatopTM in pregnancy]. Associations between maternal asthma, allergic asthma, or lung function and childhood asthma and growth were estimated using multivariable regression models. Results For maternal allergic asthma, there was an increased risk of “asthma ever by six years” [adjRR 2.07 (95% CI: 1.33, 3.22)]. Increasing pre- and post-bronchodilator FEV1 was associated with a reduced risk for childhood asthma [adj RR 0.50 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.81) and 0.45 (95% CI: 0.29, 0.69) respectively for “asthma ever by six years”]. No significant relationship was found for FVC, FEV1/FVC, bronchodilator response, or between maternal measures and childhood growth. Conclusion Maternal asthma and allergic asthma are risk factors for childhood asthma. Higher lung function in pregnancy may be associated with a lower risk for childhood asthma in the offspring. Maternal measures did not have a statistically significant association with childhood growth in the offspring.