Associação entre o ganho de peso e a prevalência e gravidade de sibilância e asma no primeiro ano de vida Association between weight gain and the prevalence and severity of wheezing and asthma in the first year of life

ABSTRACTObjective : To evaluate associations between different patterns of weight gain in the first year of life with the prevalence and severity of wheezing and asthma in infancy. Methods : Answers to the EISL questionnaire from 9159 parents living in the cities of Sao Paulo, Recife, Cuiaba, Curitiba and Belem were analyzed. Data from reported weight at birth and at one year were conver-ted to Z -scores (z). Rapid weight gain was defined by the difference in weight superior to 0.67z and excessive weight gain by the difference superior to 2.01z. Results : Rapid weight gain was found in 55.7% infants and excessive weight gain in 20.8%. Infants with rapid weight gain showed a significantly higher prevalence of recurrent wheezing (18.9% vs. 18.2%) and hospitalization for wheezing (8.9% vs. 7.5%). Infants with excessive weight gain had a significantly higher prevalence of hospitalization for wheez ing (10.1% vs. 7.8%) and medical diagnosis of asthma (8.7% vs. 7.3%). Breastfeeding for at least six months was significantly less frequent among infants with rapid weight gain (45.2% vs. 51.4%).