Case-control Study of Exclusive Breast Feeding and Severe Bronchiolitis in the United States

Overview

Journal Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Pediatrics
Public Health

Date 2023 Mar 7

PMID 36882670

Authors

Ruth J Geller

Nancy R Inhofe

Cassandra C Crifase

Janice A Espinola

Catalina Gallegos

Nicole Herrera

Elie Mitri

Ying Shelly Qi

Ashley F Sullivan

Carlos A Camargo Jr

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Bronchiolitis is a major cause of infant illness, with few known modifiable risk factors. Breast feeding may reduce risk of severe bronchiolitis, but the association of exclusive vs. partial breast feeding with severe bronchiolitis is unclear.

Objective: To estimate the association of exclusive vs. partial breast feeding during ages 0-2.9 months with bronchiolitis hospitalisation during infancy.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study as a secondary analysis of two prospective US cohorts in the Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration. Cases were enrolled in a 17-centre study of infants hospitalised for bronchiolitis during 2011-2014 (n = 921). Controls were enrolled in a five-centre study of healthy infants during 2013-2014 and 2017 (n = 719). Breast feeding history during ages 0-2.9 months was collected by parent interview. Among breastfed infants, the association of exclusive vs. partial breast feeding with odds of bronchiolitis hospitalisation was estimated using a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted for demographic variables, parental asthma history, and early-life exposures. As a secondary analysis, we estimated the associations of exclusive, predominant, and occasional breast feeding vs. no breast feeding with the odds of bronchiolitis hospitalisation.

Results: Among 1640 infants, the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding was 187/921 (20.3%) among cases and 275/719 (38.3%) among controls. Exclusive vs. partial breast feeding was associated with 48% reduced odds of bronchiolitis hospitalisation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39, 0.69). In the secondary analysis, exclusive vs. no breast feeding was associated with 58% reduced odds of bronchiolitis hospitalisation (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23, 0.77), whereas predominant breast feeding (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.37, 1.57) and occasional breast feeding (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.57, 1.69) were not associated with meaningfully reduced odds of bronchiolitis hospitalisation.

Conclusion: Exclusive breast feeding had a strong protective association against bronchiolitis hospitalisation.

Citing Articles

Infant feeding and criticality in children.

Sorce L, Asaro L, Curley M Nurs Crit Care. 2024; 30(2):e13103.

PMID: 38923099 PMC: 11669727. DOI: 10.1111/nicc.13103.

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