Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39450871›Full record

ArticleAlimentary pharmacology & therapeutics2025

Early-Life Infections, Antibiotics and Later Risk of Childhood and Early Adult-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Pooled Analysis of Two Scandinavian Birth Cohorts.

Karl Mårild, Tereza Lerchova, Malin Östensson, Henrik Imberg, Ketil Størdal, Johnny Ludvigsson

Abstract read
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Article in Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
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10citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Karl MårildDepartment of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Tereza LerchovaDepartment of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Malin ÖstenssonBioinformatics and Data Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Henrik ImbergStatistiska Konsultgruppen Sweden, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Ketil StørdalDepartment of Pediatric Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Johnny LudvigssonCrown Princess Victoria Children's Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.

Funding

ALF fundingBarndiabetesfondenBirgitta och Göran Karlssons StiftelseForskningsrådet för Arbetsliv och Socialvetenskap FAS2004-1775Forskningsrådet i Sydöstra SverigeJDRF Wallenberg Foundation K 98-99D-12813-01ALFoU grants from Region Östergötland and Linköping universityÖstgöta BrandstodsbolagSvenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk ForskningVetenskapsrådet K2005-72X-11242-11AVetenskapsrådet K2008-69X-20826-01-4
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildhood antibiotic use has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), although the potential contribution of infection frequency remains uncertain.

aimsTo explore the association between early-life infections, antibiotics and IBD development.

methodsWe used population-based data from ABIS (Sweden) and MoBa (Norway) cohorts following children from birth (1997-2009) until 2021. Prospectively collected questionnaires identified infection frequency (any, gastrointestinal and respiratory) and antibiotics (any, penicillin and non-penicillin) until age 3. IBD diagnosis required ≥ 2 records in national health registries. Cohort-specific hazard ratios (aHR), adjusted for parental education, smoking and IBD were estimated and pooled using a random-effects model. Antibiotic analyses were adjusted for infection frequency.

resultsThere were 103,046 children (11,872 ABIS and 91,174 MoBa), contributing to 1,663,898 person-years of follow-up, during which 395 were diagnosed with IBD. The frequency of any infection at 0 to < 1 and 1 to < 3 years showed a pooled aHR of 1.01 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.96-1.07) and 1.00 (95% CI = 0.99-1.01) per additional infection for IBD. Adjusting for infections, any versus no antibiotics in the first year was associated with IBD (pooled aHR = 1.33 [95% CI = 1.01-1.76]). The aHR for additional antibiotic course was 1.17 (95% CI = 0.96-1.44), driven by penicillin (per additional course, aHR = 1.28 [95% CI = 1.02-1.60]). Although antibiotics at 1 to < 3 years did not show an association with IBD or Crohn's disease, non-penicillin antibiotics were associated with ulcerative colitis (per additional course, aHR = 1.95 [95% CI = 1.38-2.75]).

conclusionEarly-life antibiotic use was, a significant risk factor for childhood and early adult-onset IBD, independent of infection frequency.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsInflammatory Bowel DiseasesAdolescentAdultAge of OnsetBirth CohortChildChild, PreschoolCohort StudiesFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleNorwayProspective StudiesAnti-Bacterial AgentsCrohn's diseasepenicillinulcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID39450871
PMCPMC11671729

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.