To Örebro University

OBJECTIVE: The effect of early life antibiotic treatment on the risk of type 1 diabetes is debated. This study assessed this question, applying a register-based design in children up to age 10 years including a large sibling-control analysis.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: = 797,318) born in Sweden between 1 July 2005 and 30 September 2013 were included and monitored to 31 December 2014. Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for parental and perinatal characteristics, were applied, and stratified models were used to account for unmeasured confounders shared by siblings.

RESULTS: for interaction = 0.016). The association was driven by exposure to antibiotics primarily used for acute otitis media and respiratory tract infections. Further, we found an association of antibiotic prescriptions in pregnancy (22.5%) with type 1 diabetes (adjusted HR 1.15 [95% CI 1.00-1.32]). In general, sibling analysis supported these results, albeit often with statistically nonsignificant associations.

CONCLUSIONS: Dispensed prescription of antibiotics, mainly for acute otitis media and respiratory tract infections, in the 1st year of life is associated with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes before age 10, most prominently in children delivered by cesarean section.