KSE
Articles
- Page Path
- HOME > Epidemiol Health > Accepted Articles > Article
- Original article Associations of breastfeeding duration and the total number of children breastfed with self-reported osteoarthritis in women 50 years and older: a cross-sectional study
-
Dajeong Ham1
, Sanghyuk Bae1,2
-
Epidemiol Health 2023;e2023044
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023044 [Accepted]
Published online: April 13, 2023
- 289 Views
- 24 Download
- 0 Crossref
- 0 Scopus
2Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Seoul, Korea
3Environmental Health Center, The Catholic University of Korea, seoul, Korea
-
Corresponding author:
Sanghyuk Bae,
Email: sanghyukb@catholic.ac.kr
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease, with a higher prevalence among women than men. The present study aimed to examine the associations of breastfeeding duration and the total number of children breastfed with osteoarthritis in Korean women aged 50 years and older.
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, we used representative data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, phases 5 through 7 (2010–2018). Our analysis included 10,102 women aged ≥50 years. Osteoarthritis experience was defined as whether a physician had ever diagnosed osteoarthritis. Breastfeeding duration was categorized as 1-6 months, 7-24 months, and ≥25 months. The total number of children breastfed was categorized as 1–2, 3–4, and≥5. The covariates were health behavior characteristics and risks of diseases (smoking, drinking, physical activity, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, oral contraceptive use, and menopause) as well as socioeconomic characteristics (income, educational level, and occupation). A multiple logistic regression model was used to investigate associations between osteoarthritis and aspects of breastfeeding experience.
RESULTS
Compared to the non-breastfeeding group, the breastfeeding group had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.55 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-2.03) for osteoarthritis. Those who reported breastfeeding for >25 months had an OR of 1.56 (95% CI, 1.19-2.06).
CONCLUSIONS
The advantages of breastfeeding are already well known, but the present study suggests that women who breastfeed children for a longer time may have a higher risk of osteoarthritis after middle age.
Cited
