Early-life weight gain is associated with non-atopic asthma in childhood

Background: Previous studies suggest the association between early-life weight gain and asthma. It remains unclear whether early-life weight gain is associated with atopic or non-atopic asthma. This study aimed to investigate whether early-life weight gain is associated with atopic or non-atopic asthma. Methods: Included in this study were 1343 singleton-birth children (761 boys, 57%) born between January 2010 and December 2011 participating in the Longitudinal Investigation of Global Health in Taiwanese Schoolchildren (LIGHTS) cohort were evaluated by a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire and interviewed by pediatricians between July 1, 2016 and May 31, 2018 at the mean age of 6.4 years. Weight gain z-scores during the first 6, 12, and 18 months of life were classified into 4 groups: slow (below −0.67), on track (−0.67 to 0.67), rapid (0.67 to 1.28), and extremely rapid (above 1.28). The main outcomes were atopic and non-atopic asthma. Asthma was defined as having physician-diagnosed asthma and the presence of wheeze or asthma exacerbations in the last 12 months. Atopy was determined by Phadiatop Infant. Results: The extremely rapid weight gain group of children during the first 6, 12, and 18 months of life was significantly associated with an increased risk of non-atopic asthma (adjusted odd ratio [AOR], 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–4.53 for the first 6 months; AOR, 2.86, 95% CI, 1.34–6.14 for the first 12 months; AOR, 3.26, 95% CI 1.49–7.15 for the first 18 months) compared with the on track group. No significant association was found in atopic asthma. A sex-stratified analysis revealed the association of early-life weight gain with non-atopic asthma was statistically significant only in boys (AOR, 4.24, 95% CI, 1.44–12.50). Conclusion: Extremely rapid weight gain during the first 6–18 months of life was significantly associated with 2.1- to 3.3-fold increased risk of non-atopic asthma, with a more pronounced risk found in boys.