Table 3. Comparison between breastfeeding and formula feeding children in SLE and RA.
| SLE | RA | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breastfed infants (n=31) | Non-breastfed infants (n=74) | P value | Breastfed infants (n=56) | Non-breastfed infants (n=54) | P value | |
| Maternal age, median (IQR) | 25 (9.5) | 25.5 (5) | 0.99 | 30 (9) | 28 (6.75) | 0.37 |
| High educational level | 5 (16.1%) | 12 (16.2%) | 0.99 | 6 (10.7%) | 5 (9.3%) | 0.8 |
| Parity (primipara) | 2 (6.5%) | 13 (17.6%) | 0.14 | 10 (17.9%) | 6 (11.1%) | 0.32 |
| Disease duration during pregnancy (years) | 2 (3.25) | 3 (4.38) | 0.25 | 5 (7.6) | 3 (3.8) | 0.22 |
| Disease activity during pregnancy | 8 (25.8%) | 51 (68.9%) | <0.001* | 9 (16.1%) | 17 (31.5%) | 0.06 |
| Drugs used during pregnancy | ||||||
| Hydroxychloroquine | 17 (54.8%) | 59 (79.7%) | 0.009* | 33 (58.9%) | 39 (72.2%) | 0.14 |
| Glucocorticoids | 12 (38.7%) | 66 (89.2%) | <0.001* | 29 (51.8%) | 30 (55.6%) | 0.69 |
| Anti-TNF agents | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | – | 0 (0%) | 1 (2.1%) | 1 |
| Azathioprine | 2 (6.7%) | 17 (26.7%) | 0.025* | 0 (0%) | 1 (1.9%) | 0.5 |
| Sulfasalazine | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | – | 3 (5.4%) | 0 (0%) | 0.24 |
| Disease activity post partum | 17 (54.8%) | 62 (83.8%) | 0.002* | 44 (78.6%) | 49 (90.7%) | 0.08 |
| Gestational weeks | ||||||
| Preterm (<37 weeks) | 3 (9.7%) | 24 (32.4%) | 0.015* | 3 (5.4%) | 8 (14.8%) | 0.1 |
| Mode of delivery | ||||||
| C-section | 15 (48.4%) | 48 (64.9%) | 0.12 | 28 (50%) | 31 (57.4%) | 0.44 |
| Maternal admission to ICU post partum | 0 (0%) | 15 (20.3%) | 0.007* | 0 (0%) | 1 (1.9%) | 0.49 |
| Neonatal weight (g) | 3000 (700) | 2800 (500) | 0.15 | 3000 (0) | 3000 (500) | 0.08 |
| Neonatal sex | ||||||
| Male | 18 (58.1%) | 41 (55.4%) | 0.8 | 26 (46.4%) | 20 (37%) | 0.32 |
| Neonatal admission to NICU | 3 (9.7%) | 5 (6.8%) | 0.61 | 0 (0%) | 5 (9.3%) | 0.03* |
| Postpartum depression | 1 (3.2%) | 35 (47.3%) | <0.001* | 10 (17.9%) | 22 (40.7%) | 0.008* |
| Intention to breastfeed | 31 (100%) | 54 (73%) | 0.001* | 55 (98.2%) | 48 (88.9%) | 0.045* |
| Skin-to-skin contact after delivery | 27 (87.1%) | 48 (64.9%) | 0.021* | 52 (92.6%) | 42 (77.8%) | 0.03* |
| Breastfeeding initiation | 28 (90.3%) | 48 (64.9%) | 0.008* | 54 (96.4%) | 38 (70.4%) | <0.001* |
| Compatible drug with lactation | 29 (93.5%) | 56 (75.7%) | 0.03* | 42 (75%) | 33 (61.1%) | 0.12 |
Continuous variables (maternal age, disease duration, neonatal weight) are presented as median (IQR) and compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables are presented as n (%) and compared using χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate.
*
Statistical significance defined as p<0.05.
C-section, caesarean section; ICU, intensive care unit; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; TNF, tumour necrosis factor.