Although maternal asthma is a common chronic condition, affecting nearly 10% of pregnant women globally and a known risk factor for childhood asthma, the nuanced impact of different asthma types on newborn health remains understudied. To address this gap, a new study investigated the links between asthma diagnosis during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes like preterm birth, low birth weight, and cesarean deliveries.
Analyzing nearly a decade of data (2009-2018) from the Alberta Pregnancy Birth Cohort, researchers examined over 434,000 single live births. They discovered that 8.6% of pregnant individuals in the cohort had asthma. Of these, 52% had a history of asthma, 40% had current asthma, and 7% experienced active asthma during their pregnancy.
After adjusting for other factors, the study determined that pregnant people with asthma faced a 15% higher chance of preterm birth, a 12% increased risk of low birth weight, and a 9% greater probability of a Cesarean delivery. These risks were notably highest when asthma was active, diminishing with current and then past asthma. Furthermore, the study pinpointed that particular asthma profiles, especially those marked by high eosinophil and neutrophil blood levels, carried the highest risks for these complications.
Ultimately, this study highlights that the timing of asthma activity and specific asthma types are crucial factors linked to a higher risk of complications around birth, strongly suggesting that early and precise identification of a pregnant individual’s specific asthma type is essential for enabling doctors to develop more effective management plans and potentially reduce the risk of complications for newborns. The researchers also advocate for reassessing the use of oral corticosteroids and related asthma treatments in pregnancy, prioritizing safer options to minimize steroid exposure.
This study was co-authored by the CVC’s Subhabrata Moitra, PhD (postdoctoral trainee), Anamaria Savu, PhD, and Padma Kaul, PhD, in collaboration with Isabella Annesi-Maesano, MD, PhD, ScD (University of Montpellier), Judith Garcia-Aymerich MD, MPH, PhD (University of Pompeu Fabra), Paige Lacy PhD (University of Alberta), and Amy Metcalfe, PhD (University of Calgary). This paper is among the first publications from the One Child Every Child (OCEC) initiative, stemming directly from the Theme: Better Beginnings led by Drs. Kaul and Metcalfe. The Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI) and the University of Alberta are major partners in the CFREF-funded OCEC initiative.
