Relationship between breast-feeding and wheeze risk in early childhood in Korean children: based on the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: There is conflicting evidence concerning the relationship between breast-feeding and development of wheezing in early childhood. Epidemiological evidence for a role of breast-feeding on risk of wheezing is inconclusive. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between breast feeding and risk of current wheezing in early childhood in Korea. METHODS: We combined the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data collected from 2010 to 2012 and analyzed 1,011 children from 1 to 3 years olds who had been surveyed in regards to breast-feeding. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify association among the following variables: presence of current wheezing, feeding types and duration of breast-feeding. RESULTS: Prevalence of exclusive breast-feeding and current wheezing decreased both annually from 2010 to 2012. In the univariate analysis, breast-feeding, formula-feeding, duration of breast-feeding were not associated significantly with current wheezing of children younger than 3 years old. No measureable statistically significant relation was observed among breast-feeding, formula-feeding, duration of breast-feeding and risk of current wheezing in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The present study showed no statistically significant relationship between breast-feeding and the risk of wheeze in early childhood in Korean children. National prospective study is needed to clarify the role of breast-feeding in development of current wheezing.