Prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and childhood overweight at 7 years of age

• Published in: Annals of epidemiology 2013-11, Vol.23 (11), p.681-687
• Main Authors: Grzeskowiak, Luke E., PhD, Gilbert, Andrew L., PhD, Sørensen, Thorkild I.A., DrMedSc, Olsen, Jørn, PhD, Sørensen, Henrik T., PhD, Pedersen, Lars H., PhD, Morrison, Janna L., PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antidepressant agents/adverse effects; Antidepressive Agents - adverse effects; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Body Mass Index; Body Weight - drug effects; Child; Child, Preschool; Denmark - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Female; Fetal Development - drug effects; Fetal development/drug effects prenatal exposure delayed effects; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Internal Medicine; Logistic Models; Male; Mothers - psychology; Overweight; Overweight - epidemiology; Overweight - etiology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - drug therapy; Pregnancy Complications - psychology; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - adverse effects; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 1047-2797; 1873-2585
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2013.08.005

Abstract Purpose To investigate a possible association between prenatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) exposure and childhood overweight at 7 years of age. Methods Information on pregnancy exposures and prevalence of childhood overweight at 7 years of age was obtained from the Danish National Birth Cohort. Overweight was classified as body mass index >85th percentile, based on age and sex. Based on an a priori hypothesis, we conducted analyses stratified by child sex to examine sex-specific differences. Results Of eligible pregnant women, 127 reported using an SSRI, 490 reported having a psychiatric illness but no psychotropic medication use, and 35,568 reported no psychiatric illness and no psychotropic medication use. In comparison to children of mothers with a psychiatric illness but no SSRI use during pregnancy, prenatal SSRI exposure overall was not associated with an increased risk of childhood overweight (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.12; 95% confidence interval 0.71 to 1.77). However, when stratified according to child sex, an increased risk was observed among males (aPR 1.78; 95% CI, 1.01 to 3.12) but not females (aPR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.37 to 1.99). In contrast, female children of mothers with a psychiatric illness but no SSRI use during pregnancy were more likely to be overweight than female children of unexposed mothers (aPR 1.45; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.02). This association was not mirrored among males (aPR 1.06; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.50). Conclusions We observed the potential for opposing sex-specific differences in the long-term effects of prenatal exposure to SSRI use and/or maternal psychiatric illness on childhood overweight. Limitations of the present study suggest that further research in this area may be warranted with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up.