Gestational Age at Birth and Risk of Gastric Acid-Related Disorders in Young Adulthood

• PURPOSE: Preterm birth is associated with gastric acid-related disorders in infancy, but no investigators have examined this association beyond early childhood. We used antisecretory medication data to explore whether preterm birth is associated with gastric acid-related disorders in young adulthood. METHODS: We conducted a national cohort study of 626,811 individuals born in Sweden in 1973 to 1979, followed up for antisecretory (proton pump inhibitor and H2-receptor antagonist) medication prescriptions from all outpatient and inpatient pharmacies nationwide from 2005 to 2009 (ages 25.5-37.0 years). We excluded individuals with congenital anomalies, and examined potential confounding by other comorbidities identified on the basis of oral anti-inflammatory or corticosteroid medication prescription. RESULTS: Gestational age at birth was inversely associated with antisecretory medication prescription in young adulthood. Adjusted odds ratios for >= 1 antisecretory medication prescription/year were 3.38 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.73-6.62) for individuals born at 22-27 weeks, 1.38 (95% CI, 1.19-1.60) for those born at 28-34 weeks, and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.06-1.32) for those born at 35-36 weeks, relative to those born full-term (37-42 weeks). Exclusion of individuals who were prescribed oral anti-inflammatory or corticosteroid medications (>= 1/year) had little effect on these results. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that low gestational age at birth may be independently associated with an increased risk of gastric acid-related disorders in young adulthood. Ann Epidemiol 2012;22:233-238. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Gastric Acid

Gastroesophageal Reflux

Gestational Age

Premature Birth

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)