Breastfeeding for first one year reduced risk of respiratory tract infections among infants: Study

A new study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that infants aged 12 to 24 months had a significantly lower incidence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and associated hospitalizations when exclusively breastfed for 6 months and then continued to be breastfed for at least a year.

One of the main causes of morbidity in children is respiratory tract infections. According to studies done in developed nations, the prevalence of respiratory tract infections in the first year of life ranges from 3.4 to 32.1%. Infants who are breastfed are protected against respiratory tract infections, although it is unclear if these benefits continue after that age.

According to some studies, protection ceases shortly after weaning, while other investigations have shown that it lasts for at least 2 years. It is important to note that rather than focusing on specific diseases, many earlier studies did not adequately adjust for confounding variables or examine a potential effect modification by sex, which had been suggested by multiple studies showing a stronger protection in girls.

But, they broadly classified RTIs into upper or lower tract infections. Thus, to investigate the relationship between nursing behaviors during the first year of life and subsequent baby respiratory tract infections, Weiming Wang and her colleagues carried out this study.

The Tongji Maternal and Child Health Cohort research included a secondary analysis. The data on breastfeeding was gathered at 3, 6, and 12 months of age. Hospitalization for RTIs during 12 to 24 months and pediatrician-diagnosed baby RTIs were collected 24 months after delivery. Thereby, to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding behaviors and the risk of RTIs and hospitalization from RTIs, robust log-Poisson regression models were used.

A total of 13% (n = 435) of the 5242 babies in the study were breastfed exclusively for 6 months and for at least a year (F6-L). Formula-fed (FF) infants expressed a greater incidence of RTIs, including upper RTIS and lower RTIS when compared to infants in the F6-L group and their adjusted RRs (95% CIs) were 1.34 (1.17, 1.53), 1.31 (1.12, 1.52), and 1.59 (1.10, 2.31), respectively.

The adjusted RRs (95% CIs) for hospitalization from RTIs were 1.88 (1.20, 2.95) for the FF group when compared to babies in the F6-L group. Overall, a decreased incidence of recurrent baby RTIs and hospitalization from RTIs was linked to full breastfeeding for 6 months and maintained nursing for at least a year.

Source:

Wang, W., Tu, M., Huang, L., Zhang, X., Chen, X., Lin, L., Yang, X., Hao, L., & Yang, N. (2024). Association of breastfeeding practices during the first 12 months and subsequent infant respiratory tract infections: a prospective cohort study. In European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01558-x