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Renee D. Goodwin, PhD, MPH; Stephen L. Buka, ScD

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(8):774-780.

Objective  To examine the association between early childhood respiratory disease and the risk of anxiety and depression in adulthood.

Design  Cohort study.

Setting  Providence cohort of the National Collaborative Perinatal Project.

Participants  Offspring of 1062 mothers selected for follow-up from birth through adulthood.

Main Exposure  Childhood respiratory disease.

Main Outcome Measure  Odds of developing anxiety and depression by age 34 years.

Results  Respiratory disease in childhood was associated with an elevated risk of receiving treatment for anxiety disorders but not mood disorders. Specifically, higher respiratory rate at age 4 months was associated with significantly increased odds of receiving treatment for anxiety by age 34 years (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-4.4; P < .05). Respiratory disease at age 1 year was associated with significantly increased odds of receiving treatment for anxiety (odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.5; P = .04). In addition, having respiratory disease at age 1 year only was associated with increased odds of receiving treatment for anxiety (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-8.7; P < .05), whereas having both respiratory disease at age 1 year and suspect (parent reported but not physician diagnosed) respiratory disease at age 7 years was associated with the greatest odds of receiving treatment for anxiety (odds ratio, 19.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.8-141.9; P < .05).

Conclusions  These results are consistent with and extend previous findings and provide prospective evidence of a link between respiratory disease in early childhood and increased risk of anxiety disorders by age 34 years. These findings may have implications for prevention or early intervention with groups at high risk for anxiety disorders.

Author Affiliations: Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York (Dr Goodwin); and Department of Community Health, Epidemiology Section, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (Dr Buka).

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