335 - Increased Risk of Atopic Diseases in Offspring Conceived via Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Publication Number: 335.5353

Ming-Chih Lin, Natioanl Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taichung, Taiwan (Republic of China); Yao-Chi Hsieh, Children's Medical Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan., Taichung, Taichung, Taiwan (Republic of China)

Background: With the growing number of cases involving pregnancies facilitated through assisted reproductive technology (ART), potential short-term and long-term adverse effects associated with children born after ART gained more attention.

Objective: This study aims to investigate whether infants born after ART have an increased likelihood of developing atopic diseases from a population-based perspective.

Design/Methods: This main data source was Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). We further linked NHIRD to Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database (MCHD) and Artificial Reproduction Databases of Taiwan to have maternal children link and ART information. We enrolled infants born after ART from January 2004 to December 2014 as the exposure group (ART group) and then matched them in a 1:4 ratio by maternal age, gender, month of birth to select the control group (natural conception). All children in this study were followed up until the end of 2020. Cox regression models were applied to adjusted potential confounders and calculate adjusted hazard ratio.

Results: A total of co13981 infants in ART group and 55924 infants in the control group were enrolled in this study. (Fig. 1) After adjusted potential confounders, infants in the ART group were more likely to have asthma (hazard ratio 1.14, 95% CI 1.10-1.18), allergic rhinitis (hazard ratio 1.17, 95% CI 1.14-1.20), and atopic dermatitis (hazard ratio 1.11, 95% CI 1.07-1.15). (Fig. 2) In subgroup analysis, children conceived by fresh embryos had a higher risk of acquiring allergic rhinitis compared to frozen embryos. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection has a higher risk of atopic dermatitis. (Fig. 3)

Conclusion(s): Children born after ART might have higher risks of atopic diseases. Children of fresh embryo might have higher risk of allergic rhinitis. Baby born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection might have higher risk of atopic dermatitis. Further study may be needed to explore the real causal relationship and the underlying mechanism.

Figure 1. Composition of the study cohort
ART: assisted reproductive technology; ICSI: intracytoplasmic sperm injection; PGD: preimplantation genetic diagnosis; PGS: preimplantation genetic screening



Figure 2. Cumulative incidence of atopic diseases in infants with or without artificial reproductive technology
The artificial reproductive technology (ART) group exhibited a higher likelihood of developing asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.

Figure 3. Hazard ratio of developing atopic diseases in relation to artificial reproductive technology (ART)
Cofactors were adjusted by Cox regression modles. Children conceived with fresh embryos faced a greater risk of allergic rhinitis compared to those conceived with frozen embryos. Additionally, intracytoplasmic sperm injection was associated with a higher risk of atopic dermatitis.