Background

Accumulating studies suggest that an association exists between preterm birth and eczema.

Objective

We performed a meta-analysis of the available evidence to determine whether the risk of developing eczema is affected by preterm birth.

Methods

We searched for observational studies using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases from inception to February 1, 2017. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were evaluated. Unadjusted and adjusted effect estimates were pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed to assess the robustness of associations.

Results

Eighteen studies were included in this study. Compared with full-term birth, very preterm birth had a lower risk of eczema in unadjusted (relative risk [RR] 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72-0.85) and adjusted (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.68-0.86) analyses. The risk became insignificant among children born moderate preterm (unadjusted RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.77-1.00; adjusted RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.73-1.01).

Limitations

The included studies used different assessments of eczema, and gestational age varied among studies.

Conclusion

The available evidence suggests an association between very preterm birth and a decreased risk of eczema.

中文翻译：

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早产与湿疹风险降低的关联：系统评价和荟萃分析

背景

越来越多的研究表明，早产和湿疹之间存在关联。

客观的

我们对现有证据进行了荟萃分析，以确定发生湿疹的风险是否受到早产的影响。

方法

从开始到2017年2月1日，我们使用PubMed，Cochrane图书馆，Web of Science和EMBASE数据库搜索观察性研究。对符合纳入标准的研究进行了评估。使用随机效应模型汇总未调整和调整后的效应估计值。进行亚组分析和敏感性分析以评估关联的鲁棒性。

结果

这项研究包括18项研究。与足月分娩相比，未经调整（相对风险[RR] 0.78，95％置信区间[CI] 0.72-0.85）和调整后（非常危险[RR 0.76，95％CI 0.68-0.86]），极早产具有较低的湿疹风险分析。在中等早产儿中，风险变得微不足道（未调整的RR 0.88，95％CI 0.77-1.00；调整的RR 0.86，95％CI 0.73-1.01）。

局限性

纳入的研究使用了不同的湿疹评估方法，不同研究中的胎龄也有所不同。

结论

现有证据表明早产与湿疹风险降低之间存在关联。