Effect of fractional exhaled nitric oxide ( F ENO )-based asthma
management during pregnancy versus usual care on infant development,
temperament, sensory function and autism signs
Abstract
Background Asthma during pregnancy is associated with a range
of adverse perinatal outcomes. It is also linked to increased rates of
neurodevelopmental conditions the offspring. We aimed to assess whether
fractional exhaled nitric oxide (F ENO)-based asthma
management during pregnancy improves child developmental and behavioural
outcomes compared to usual care. Methods The Breathing for Life
Trial was a randomised controlled trial that compared F
ENO-based asthma management during pregnancy to usual
care. Participants were invited to the developmental follow-up, the
Breathing for Life Trial – Infant Development study, which followed up
infants at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. The primary outcomes were
measured in infants at 12-months using the Bayley-III: Cognitive,
Language, and Motor composite scores. Secondary outcomes included
Bayley-III social-emotional and adaptive behaviour scores, autism
likelihood, and sensory and temperament outcomes. The exposure of
interest was the randomised intervention group. Results 220
infants and their 217 participating mothers were recruited to the
follow-up; 107 mothers were in the intervention group and 113 were in
the control group. There was no evidence of an intervention effect for
the primary outcomes: Bayley-III cognitive (Mean=108.9 control, 108.5
intervention, p=0.93), language (Mean=95.9 control, 95.6 intervention,
p=0.87) and motor composite scores (Mean=97.2 control, 97.9
intervention, p=0.25). Mean scores for secondary outcomes were also
similar among infants born to control and F ENO
group mothers, with few results reaching p<0.05.
Conclusion In this sample, F ENO-guided
asthma treatment during pregnancy did not improve infant developmental
outcomes in the first year of life.