Cure8 research brief
The study suggests that modifiable early-life factors (feeding, antibiotic exposure, activity, BMI, smoke exposure, delivery mode, diet) may influence the later risk of IBD, especially Crohn's disease, which could be relevant for parents and clinicians thinking about prevention strategies across the life course.
Parents and caregivers of young children, pediatric clinicians, researchers studying IBD prevention and early-life risk factors, and people interested in lifestyle influences on Crohn's disease risk.
This study used two birth cohorts (1997–2009) and combined questionnaire/exposure data at ages 1 and 3 to build a Modifiable Health-related Lifestyle Score and an empirically weighted Optimal Risk Score that included smoking exposure, delivery mode, breastfeeding, diet quality, antibiotic use, physical activity, and BMI.
Linked national registries provided IBD diagnoses through 2023–2024 and analyses adjusted for parental IBD and sociodemographic factors. Children with high versus low healthy-lifestyle scores at age 1 had a lower adjusted hazard of developing IBD overall (and a stronger reduction for Crohn's disease).
Similar associations were seen for scores measured at age 3 for IBD and Crohn's disease but not for ulcerative colitis. The authors suggest early-life modifiable factors may influence later IBD risk.
This is an observational cohort analysis using registry-linked outcomes; associations do not prove causation and may be influenced by unmeasured confounders. The summary is based on the article abstract.
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
Funding disclosed by the source: Swedish Research Council - 2020-01980; Swedish Society for Medical Research - S20-0007
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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