LLLI
Center for Breastfeeding Information
Journal Abstract of the Month for April 2003
"Breastfeeding and
the risk of hospitalization for respiratory disease in infancy."
By Virginia R. Galton Bachrach, Eleanor Schwarz and Lela Rose Bachrach.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2003-3;157(3):237-43
In a meta-analysis of 33
studies, the authors found a protective association between breastfeeding
and respiratory disease requiring hospitalization. No breastfeeding
was compared to four or more months of exclusive breastfeeding, and
adjustments were made for smoking or socioeconomic status.
In a healthy population in
developed countries there was more than a tripling in severe respiratory
illnesses which resulted in hospitalization in infants who were not
breastfed. Exclusive breastfeeding for four or more months appears to
diminish the risk of respiratory hospitalizations to one third or less
the risk for formula-fed infants, even in countries with high standards
of living. Severe respiratory illness is a known risk factor for asthma.
Because respiratory illness is the leading cause of hospitalization
in young children (average cost for each hospitalization $3500), with
more than 250,000 admissions in 1996, there are large financial implications
to this report.
Unlike vaccines which target
individual pathogens, breastfeeding provides simultaneous protection
against a broad spectrum of organisms.
This article will be categorized
in the following subjects:
Respiratory Problems,
Exclusive Breastfeeding, Epidemiology, Advantages, HMOs/Insurance, Cost,
Human Milk/Immune Factors.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:34:23 UTC 2007.
