LAUSR

METHODS Using data from a provincial newborn screen and healthcare database for 12,587 children born in 2004, maternal distress was defined as: prenatal, and self-limiting, recurrent or late-onset postpartum. Atopic dermatitis (AD) and asthma at ages 5 and 7 were diagnosed from hospitalization, physician visit or prescription records. Associations between maternal distress, and childhood asthma and AD were determined with multiple logistic regression. RESULTS After adjusting for risk factors, a significant association between maternal prenatal (OR 1.27, 95%CI 1.11-1.46), recurrent postpartum (OR 1.28, 95%CI 1.11-1.48), and late-onset postpartum distress (OR 1.19, 95%CI 1.06-1.34) was found with AD at 5 years. Asthma at 7 was also associated with maternal prenatal distress (OR 1.57, 95%CI 1.29-1.91) and late-onset postnatal distress (OR 1.22, 95%CI 1.01-1.46). Self-limiting postnatal distress was not found to be a risk factor for either atopic condition. Associations with AD or asthma were of a similar magnitude in boy and girls, except that recurrent postnatal distress increased risk for asthma in boys only. CONCLUSION This population-based study provides evidence for sex-specific associations between maternal pre- and postnatal distress, and the development of AD and asthma. Our findings support recommendations for greater psychosocial support of mothers during pregnancy and early childhood to prevent childhood atopic disease.