Do early life exposures explain why more advantaged children get eczema? Findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study.

Taylor-Robinson, David ORCID: 0000-0002-5828-7724, Williams, H, Pearce, A, Law, C and Hope, S (2016) Do early life exposures explain why more advantaged children get eczema? Findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. The British Journal of Dermatology, 174 (3). pp. 569-578.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (eczema) in childhood is socially patterned, with higher incidence in more advantaged populations, but it is unclear what factors explain the social differences. METHODS: We estimated odds ratios (OR) for ever having had eczema by age 5 in 14,499 children from the United Kingdom Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) with a focus on maternal, antenatal and early life risk factors and socio-economic circumstances (SEC). Risk factors were explored to assess if they attenuated associations between SECs and eczema. RESULTS: 35.1% of children had ever had eczema by age five. Children of mothers with degree level qualifications compared to no educational qualifications were more likely to have eczema (OR 1.52 95% CI 1.31-1.76) and there was a gradient across the socioeconomic spectrum. Maternal atopy, breastfeeding (1-6 weeks and 6 months or more), introduction of solids under 4 months or cow's milk under 9 months, antibiotic exposure in the first year of life and grime exposure were associated with an increased odds of eczema. Female sex, Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnicity, smoking during pregnancy, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and more siblings were associated with reduced odds for eczema. Controlling for maternal, antenatal and early life characteristics (particularly maternal smoking during pregnancy, breast-feeding, and number of siblings) reduced the OR for eczema to 1.26 (95%CI 1.03 to 1.5), in the group with the highest educational qualifications compared to the least. CONCLUSIONS: In a representative UK child cohort, eczema was more common in more advantaged children and this was partially explained by early life factors including not smoking during pregnancy, breast-feeding, and fewer siblings.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Eczema, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Mothers, Environmental Exposure, Age of Onset, Maternal Age, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Preschool, Infant, Educational Status, Female, Male, Young Adult, United Kingdom
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	08 Feb 2018 07:26
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 06:42
DOI:	10.1111/bjd.14310
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3017647