Association between human breast milk and retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possible protective effect of breast milk against retinopathy of prematurity by comparing the amount of breast milk received by patients who developed retinopathy of prematurity and those who did not and to determine both the required minimum amount of breast milk and the time of life during which neonates need to receive breast milk for this effect to be significant. METHODS: Cohort study of newborns with a birth weight of <1500 g or gestational age of <32 weeks, or both, born between January 2011 and October 2014 and hospitalized within the first 24 h of life in the Hospital Criança Conceição Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. RESULTS: The prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity of any degree was 31% (100 of 323 patients) and that of severe retinopathy of prematurity was of 9% (29 of 323 patients). The median amounts of breast milk received daily by patients with and without retinopathy of prematurity were 4.9 mL/kg (interquartile range, 0.3-15.4) and 10.2 mL/kg (1.5-25.5), respectively. The amount of breast milk received in the first 6 weeks of life was inversely associated with the incidence of both retinopathy of prematurity of any degree and severe retinopathy of prematurity in the univariate analyses. However, the statistical significance was maintained only during the sixth week of life in a per-period multivariate analysis controlling for confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Small amounts of breast milk are inadequate to prevent retinopathy of prematurity in premature newborns at risk for the disease.

Association between human breast milk and retinopathy of prematurity / Associação entre ingesta de leite materno e desenvolvimento de retinopatia da prematuridade

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the possible protective effect of breast milk against retinopathy of prematurity by comparing the amount of breast milk received by patients who developed retinopathy of prematurity and those who did not and to determine both the required minimum amount of breast milk and the time of life during which neonates need to receive breast milk for this effect to be significant. Methods: Cohort study of newborns with a birth weight of <1500 g or gestational age of <32 weeks, or both, born between January 2011 and October 2014 and hospitalized within the first 24 h of life in the Hospital Criança Conceição Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Results: The prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity of any degree was 31% (100 of 323 patients) and that of severe retinopathy of prematurity was of 9% (29 of 323 patients). The median amounts of breast milk received daily by patients with and without retinopathy of prematurity were 4.9 mL/kg (interquartile range, 0.3-15.4) and 10.2 mL/kg (1.5-25.5), respectively. The amount of breast milk received in the first 6 weeks of life was inversely associated with the incidence of both retinopathy of prematurity of any degree and severe retinopathy of prematurity in the univariate analyses. However, the statistical significance was maintained only during the sixth week of life in a per-period multivariate analysis controlling for confounding factors. Conclusions: Small amounts of breast milk are inadequate to prevent retinopathy of prematurity in premature newborns at risk for the disease.

RESUMO Objetivos: Avaliar o possível efeito protetor do leite materno contra a retinopatia da prematuridade, através da comparação da quantidade de leite materno recebida entre os pacientes que desenvolveram retinopatia da prematuridade e aqueles livres da doença. Tentar determinar a quantidade mínima necessária e o momento em que o recém-nascido precisa receber o leite materno para que esse efeito seja significativo. Métodos: Estudo de coorte observacional incluindo recém-nascidos com peso de nascimento inferior a 1500 gramas e/ou com idade gestacional inferior a 32 semanas, nascidos no período de janeiro de 2011 a outubro de 2014 e internados nas primeiras 24 horas de vida na UTI Neonatal do Hospital da Criança Conceição em Porto Alegre. Resultados: A prevalência da retinopatia da prematuridade em qualquer grau foi de 31% (100 casos em 323 pacientes) e a de retinopatia da prematuridade grave foi de 9% (29 casos em 323 pacientes). A mediana da quantidade de leite materno recebida pelos pacientes foi de 10,2 mL/kg/dia entre os pacientes sem retinopatia da prematuridade (amplitude interquartil 1,5-25,5) e de 4,9 mL/kg/dia entre os pacientes com retinopatia da prematuridade (0,3-15,4). A quantidade de leite materno recebida nas primeiras seis semanas de vida foi inversamente associada à incidência de retinopatia da prematuridade em qualquer grau e de retinopatia da prematuridade grave nas análises univariadas, mas a significância estatística não se manteve após análise multivariada para controle de fatores confundidores na maioria dos períodos avaliados, exceto na sexta semana de vida. Conclusão: Pequenas quantidades de leite materno não são suficientes para prevenção de retinopatia da prematuridade em recém-nascidos com de risco para a doença.

Association between Breast Milk and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Single Center Observational Study.

Introduction Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a frequent, long-term complication in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) newborns. Its etiology is multifactorial and the oxidative stress is one of its main causes. Breast milk (BM) reduces oxidative stress and provides antioxidant protection, therefore, BM may have a protective effect against BPD. Objectives This study aims to assess the possible protective effects of BM on BPD. Methods This is a cohort study including infants with a birth weight below 1,500 g and/or gestational age of less than 32 weeks, born between January 2011 and October 2014. BPD was defined as the need for supplementary oxygen for 28 days or more. Results The incidence of BPD was 29.1%. The median amount of BM received by the patients in the first 6 weeks of life was significantly higher in patients without BPD (10.8 mL/kg/day) than in those with BPD (2.3 mL/kg/day). The amount of BM received was inversely associated with the incidence of BPD, even after multivariate analysis. The cutoff point at which the protective effect emerged was an average amount of 7 mL/kg/day of BM during the first 42 days of life. Conclusion Feeding VLBW infants with BM is associated with a lower risk of developing BPD.