Caesarean section and risk of asthma and allergy in adulthood

Abstract

This study evaluated the relationship of caesarean section to the risk of asthma in adulthood. The data were based on a prospective birth cohort born in northern Finland in 1966. In 1997, when the members of the cohort were 31 years old, information on current doctor-diagnosed asthma and other allergic disorders was obtained from 1953 subjects by a self-administered questionnaire and skin prick test. Caesarean section had a strong effect on current doctor-diagnosed asthma in adulthood with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.23 (95% CI 1.53, 6.80). However, no substantial effects were observed for atopy, hay fever, and atopic eczema.