The association between maternal depression and childhood allergic diseases: an analysis of the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012)

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Asthma and atopic dermatitis are common chronic diseases and depression is an important comorbidity in allergic diseases. However, the association between maternal depression and child allergic diseases is little known. This study was performed to find out the association between maternal depression and child allergic diseases. METHODS: Data were acquired from 2,737 families who participated in the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, which was conducted from 2010 through 2012. RESULTS: The prevalence of childhood asthma was 5.3% and that of childhood atopic dermatitis was 14.1%. The prevalence of maternal depression was 3.9%. In univariate analysis, maternal depressions was associated with maternal smoking, lower education level, lower economic state, lower number of household members, maternal asthma, children's asthma (P<0.05), but marital status, maternal employment status, maternal atopic dermatitis, children's sex, children's age, children's atopic dermatitis, residence area were not related to maternal depression. After adjustment, maternal depression was associated with lower house income, maternal asthma, and children's asthma (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study shows that maternal depression may be associated with childhood asthma, but not childhood atopic dermatitis. These results warrant future studies to explore the mechanisms responsible for the association between maternal depression and childhood asthma.