Maternal smoking as a risk factor for childhood intussusception

Risk factors for intussusception have only rarely been reported. We examined the association between the risk of hospital admission for intussusception and maternal smoking, using a nationwide population-based longitudinal survey begun in Japan in 2010. Maternal smoking status was queried at 6 months of age, and responses to questions at 18 months of age about history of hospitalization for intussusception during the previous year were used as an outcome of interest. We conducted logistic regression analyses controlling for potential confounding factors. Maternal smoking increased the risk of hospitalization for intussusception (adjusted OR = 2.75, 95% CI [1.09, 6.96]) compared with not smoking, and a dose-response relationship was observed for the association. Maternal smoking is associated with an increased risk of intussusception development in children between the ages of 6 and 18 months.