Patients conceived via assisted reproductive technology had a modestly higher risk of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis compared with patients conceived without assisted reproductive technology, according to a nationwide cohort study from Taiwan published in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers linked multiple national databases in Taiwan to follow 69,785 first-born patients delivered between 2004 and 2014, including 13,957 conceived via assisted reproductive technology (ART) and 55,828 matched controls conceived naturally, with follow-up through December 31, 2020.

Following adjustment for demographic, obstetric, neonatal, and parental atopy factors, ART conception was associated with approximately 8% to 15% higher risk across all three outcomes. The cumulative incidence curves for each condition were consistently higher among ART-conceived patients across follow-up.

The study also explored whether particular ART procedures were linked to different risks within the ART group. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was not associated with increased risk of asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis.

Patients conceived using fresh embryos had higher risk of allergic rhinitis than those conceived using frozen embryos, although the researchers cautioned interpretation, noting that "no established biological mechanism or supporting literature is available to explain this association," and that it "may have occurred by chance."

Baseline differences between groups reflected the higher-risk obstetric profile often seen in ART pregnancies. Compared with controls, ART-conceived patients more often resulted from multiple births and were more likely to be born preterm or with low birth weight. Cesarean delivery and maternal complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia/eclampsia were also more common in the ART group.

"[Patients] conceived via ART had a higher risk of developing asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis," wrote lead study author Yao-Chi Hsieh, MD, of Kuang Tien General Hospital in Taichung, Taiwan, and colleagues. The findings "underscore the importance of long-term follow-up for offspring conceived via ART."

This study was supported by research grants from Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The researchers declared having no competing interests.

Source: JAMA Network Open