Asthma Rates Lower in Children Who Received Only Breast Milk at Birth Hospital

Research from a large Cincinnati medical system will be presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition

ORLANDO, Fla.—Infants who were exclusively fed breast milk during their hospitalization at birth were 22% less likely to develop asthma in early childhood, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando.

The abstract, “Association Between Hospital Feeding Patterns and Childhood Asthma,” found lower rates of asthma in the infants born at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center who were exclusively fed breast milk even after adjusting for maternal race, insurance, infant sex, and length of hospital stay. Researchers will present their findings during the conference at the Orange County Convention Center from Sept. 27-Oct. 1. 

“Although the birth hospitalization lasts only a few days, it sets a critical foundation for establishing breastfeeding, which can influence health outcomes like childhood asthma,” said Laura Placke Ward MD, IBCLC, FAAP, a study author and co-director for the Center for Breastfeeding Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

“Our study underscores the importance of hospital practices in supporting exclusive breastfeeding, as these early experiences may impact long-term health,” she said.

While longer duration and exclusive breastfeeding are known to reduce asthma risk, the effect of breastfeeding during the birth hospitalization is less understood, the authors note. 

Of the 9,649 children included in the study, 81% received some breast milk and 31% exclusively received breast milk during the birth hospitalization. Five percent had a diagnosis of asthma. Infants who received only breast milk had a lower rate of asthma diagnosis compared to those who did not receive any breast milk or did not receive breast milk exclusively after adjusting for sex, race, and insurance status. Additionally, infants whose first feeding was breast milk also had a lower rate of asthma compared to those whose first feeding was not breast milk.

“This finding highlights the need for greater emphasis on supporting and promoting exclusive breastfeeding during the early days of life,” Dr. Ward said. “By focusing on these crucial first days, we may impact children's health and potentially reduce the risk of chronic conditions like asthma.”

Media Relations Contact:

Dr. Laura Ward, [email protected]
Michael Mattingly, [email protected]

Dr. Ward is scheduled to present the research, which is below, from 1:05-1:15 PM on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in the Hyatt Regency Ballroom C. 
 
In addition, Dr. Ward and Jennifer McAllister, MD, IBCLC, FAAP, will be among highlighted abstract authors will give brief presentations and be available for interviews during a press conference at noon-1:30 PM on Saturday, September 28, 2024, in the National Conference Press Room, W208 AB. During the meeting, you may reach AAP media relations staff at 407-685-5401.

Please note: only the abstract is being presented at the meeting. In some cases, the researcher may have more data available to share with media, or may be preparing a longer article for submission to a journal.  

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP meeting website at http://www.aapexperience.org/

Abstract

Program Name: 2024 AAP National Conference-Abstracts

Submission Type: Section on Breastfeeding

Abstract Title: Association Between Hospital Feeding Patterns and Childhood Asthma

Laura Ward
Cincinnati, OH, United States

Breast milk is the optimal nutrition for newborns, and breastfed infants have a decreased risk of developing many childhood illnesses, including asthma. Studies have shown that longer periods of exclusive breastfeeding confer greater protection against asthma, but few studies have evaluated the impact of birth hospital feeding patterns on childhood asthma. Our objective was to examine the relationship between breastfeeding patterns during birth hospitalization and the diagnosis of childhood asthma.

We utilized the Maternal Infant Data Hub (MIDH), a regional perinatal data repository of maternal and infant dyads born within a large academic hospital system and linked to childhood data within the regional children’s hospital. Children born between 2017-2019 were included. Demographic information was collected, including sex, race, and insurance status. Feeding data including feeding type, frequency, and timing were collected from the birth hospitalization data, and asthma diagnoses were collected from the children's hospital records. We used descriptive statistics to examine demographic characteristics and multiple regression models to examine feeding type and asthma. Odds ratios were calculated from the bivariate and multivariable analyses.

There were 9649 children included in our study. Of those, 81% received any breast milk and 31% exclusively received breast milk during the birth hospitalization. Five percent had a diagnosis of asthma. Infants who received only breast milk had a lower rate of asthma diagnosis compared to those who did not receive any breast milk or did not receive breast milk exclusively after adjusting for sex, race, and insurance status. Additionally, infants whose first feeding was breastmilk also had a lower rate of asthma compared to those whose first feeding was not breast milk.

Development of asthma is multifactorial. Our study demonstrated that feeding patterns including first feed and exclusivity of breast milk feeding during the birth hospitalization are associated with decreased rates of childhood asthma. Although external factors may impact those who develop asthma, this work highlights the importance of early breastfeeding in mitigating the risk. Further work is needed to examine additional variables including prenatal, postnatal, and environmental factors and the influence of asthma outcomes.

Table 1. 

Demographic and descriptive data and bivariate analysis comparing those with and without an asthma diagnosis. Discharge feeding defined as feeding type for twenty-four hours prior to birth hospital discharge.

Figure 1.