Atopic dermatitis and the outcomes of pregnancy and offspring: A nationwide population-based study in Taiwan

Background and objectives: Studies have identified increased risks of pregnancy complications in expectant mothers with atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the associations between maternal AD and adverse pregnancy or offspring outcomes in Asians remain unexplored. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between maternal AD and adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes in Taiwan.

Patients and methods: This retrospective cohort study collected data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database and the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database between 2003 and 2019. We recruited 15,495 AD mothers and 77,475 non-AD mothers, as well as 19,173 children born to AD mothers and 95,865 children born to non-AD mothers, using propensity score matching. Pregnancy and offspring outcomes were compared in the maternal and offspring cohorts, respectively.

Results: AD mothers had higher risks of threatened abortion, preeclampsia/eclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, threatened preterm labor, fetal growth restriction, antepartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage, anemia, surgical complications, infections, pulmonary events, and renal events, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.09-1.71. Children born to AD mothers had increased risks of AD, allergic rhinitis, asthma, alopecia areata, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.05-2.29.

Conclusions: There is a significant association between maternal AD and adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes in Taiwan.