Does antimicrobial use during pregnancy impact excess weight in early childhood? Findings from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study

O uso de antimicrobianos durante a gravidez impacta o excesso de peso na primeira infância? Resultados do Estudo de Coorte de Nascimentos de Pelotas (Brasil) de 2015

This study aimed to investigate the association between the use of antimicrobials during pregnancy and excess weight in children at ages three, 12, 24 and 48 months. Data of participants from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort study were analyzed. The use of antimicrobials during pregnancy was assessed using standardized questionnaires and excess weight was defined as BMI for age in z-score ≥ 1. Over 43% of women used at least one antimicrobial during pregnancy. Overall, most associations investigated between the use of antimicrobials during pregnancy and excess weight in children were null. On average, children whose mothers used antimicrobials in one trimester of pregnancy had a BMI-for-age z-score at 12mo 0.11 z-score higher than those from mothers who did not use antimicrobials. An increased risk in excess weight at 48 months was observed among children whose mothers’ used antimicrobials in the first trimester of pregnancy. Given that most of the associations investigated had either null results or a small magnitude of association, this study does not support previous findings that the use of antimicrobial during pregnancy impacts excess weight in early childhood.

Key words:
Pregnancy; Childhood; Prenatal; Antimicrobial; Overweight; Obesity; Cohort study