Children of severely obese mothers face higher risk of hospital admission for infections – study

Children born to mothers with severe obesity are up to 53 per cent more likely to be hospitalised with infections during childhood, a large UK study has found.

Researchers followed children in Bradford from birth until they reached age 15, withdrew from the study, or died, whichever came first by October 2022.

They discovered significantly higher infection rates among those whose mothers had a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or above, compared to children of mothers with a healthy weight.

The findings come as maternal obesity continues to rise globally, with rates expected to reach nearly one in four (23 per cent) by 2030.

Obesity during pregnancy can cause chronic inflammation, which may disrupt the developing immune system in the foetus and have lasting health effects.

The study drew on data from 9,037 women who gave birth at Bradford Royal Infirmary between March 2007 and December 2010.

Of the group, 45 per cent were of Pakistani heritage and 40 per cent white British, with 37 per cent living in some of the UK’s most deprived areas.

Approximately 30 per cent of the women were overweight and 26 per cent were classified as obese, including 10 per cent with severe (grade 2-3) obesity, based on first-trimester BMI measurements.

Their 9,540 children were followed through health records until October 2022.

Over that period, there were 5,009 hospital admissions for infection.

By age 15, about 30 per cent of the children had been admitted at least once: 19 per cent were admitted once, 6 per cent twice, and 4 per cent three or more times.

The highest rates were seen in babies under one year old—134.6 admissions per 1,000 person years—which fell to 19.9 per 1,000 person years among 5-15 year olds.

Children of mothers with severe obesity had 60.7 admissions per 1,000 person years, compared with 39.7 among children of healthy-weight mothers.

After adjusting for factors like maternal age, ethnicity, and deprivation, these children were 41 per cent more likely to be hospitalised for infections in their first year and 53 per cent more likely between ages five and fifteen.

Most of the additional admissions were due to respiratory, gastrointestinal, and multisystem viral infections. Infections were categorised as upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract, skin and soft tissue, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, invasive bacterial, and multisystem viral.

The link was slightly stronger in boys than girls, and more pronounced in children of Pakistani mothers compared to those of white British mothers.

Researchers also looked at possible contributing factors.

Caesarean deliveries explained about 21 per cent of the link between severe maternal obesity and childhood infection, while child obesity at ages 4-5 accounted for 26 per cent.

Preterm birth explained just 7 per cent. Breastfeeding for six weeks or more, and excess weight gain in pregnancy, were not significantly associated with infection risk.

“The findings of our study highlight the need for public health campaigns and support for healthcare professionals to help women of reproductive age reach and maintain a healthy body weight,” the authors wrote.

They noted that while the effect of maternal obesity was modest and mainly observed in those with the most severe cases, the potential impact on child health worldwide could be considerable.