METHODS: We combined the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data collected from 2010 to 2012 and analyzed 1,011 children from 1 to 3 years old who had been surveyed in regards to breastfeeding. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify association among the following variables: presence of current wheezing, feeding types and durationof breast-feeding.
RESULTS: Prevalence of exclusive breast-feeding and current wheezing decreased both annually from 2010 to 2012. In the univariate analysis, breast-feeding, formula-feeding, duration of breast-feeding were not associated significantly with current wheezing of children younger than 3 years old. No measurable statistically significant relationship was observed among breast-feeding, formula-feeding, duration of breastfeeding and risk of current wheezing in the multivariate analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed no statistically significant relationship between breast-feeding and the risk of wheeze in early childhood in Korean children. National prospective study is needed to clarify the role of breast-feeding in development of current wheezing