Hospitalization for acute bronchiolitis in early childhood was associated with an increased risk of developing any mental health disorder over 15 years (aHR 1.20; 95% CI 1.16-1.23).
Cohort (n=127,770)
Does hospitalization for acute bronchiolitis in early childhood increase the risk of future mental health disorders?
Hospitalization for acute bronchiolitis in early childhood is associated with a 20% increased risk of developing subsequent mental health disorders over a 15-year follow-up.
Effect estimate: aHR 1.20 (95% CI 1.16-1.23)
Absolute Event Rate: 187.9% vs 153.9%
ABSTRACT Background Acute bronchiolitis is a frequent cause of hospitalization in early childhood and has been associated with subsequent respiratory morbidity. However, its long‐term impact on mental health has not been extensively studied. Methods This population‐based cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in South Korea, including 985,957 children born between 2002 and 2003, followed until December 2021. Children hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis ( n = 25,550) were compared to a matched unexposed cohort ( n = 102,220). The primary outcomes were 24 predefined mental health disorders, categorized into early‐onset (before 10 years) and late‐onset (after 10 years) conditions. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using proportional hazards models, adjusting for potential confounders. The modifying effects of asthma and atopic dermatitis were also evaluated. Results The median age at hospitalization for bronchiolitis was 8 months (IQR, 3–20 months). Over a mean follow‐up of 15 years, the incidence rate of any mental health disorder was 187.9 and 153.9 per 10,000 person‐years in the bronchiolitis and unexposed cohorts, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for any mental health disorder in the bronchiolitis cohort was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.16–1.23). Early‐onset developmental disorders showed aHR of 1.34 (95% CI, 1.26–1.43), and late‐onset psychiatric disorders had aHR of 1.18 (95% CI, 1.15–1.22). There was a progressive increase in risk for multiple mental health disorders ( p < 0.01). Asthma ( p = 0.77) and atopic dermatitis ( p = 0.48) did not significantly modify this risk. Conclusions Children hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis showed an increased risk of developing mental health disorders. These findings provide epidemiologic evidence supporting the need for long‐term mental health surveillance and supportive care in this population.
Kim et al. (Sun,) conducted a cohort in Acute bronchiolitis (n=127,770). Hospitalization for acute bronchiolitis vs. Matched unexposed cohort was evaluated on Any mental health disorder (aHR 1.20, 95% CI 1.16-1.23). Hospitalization for acute bronchiolitis in early childhood was associated with an increased risk of developing any mental health disorder over 15 years (aHR 1.20; 95% CI 1.16-1.23).