Table 3

Risk ratios for hospitalised infection in the first year of life comparing infants born to mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to infants born to mothers from the general population, overall and by preterm birth

Infants born to mothers with SLE, no. cases/total (%)Infants born to general population comparators, no. cases/total (%)Unadjusted risk ratio
(95% CI)
Adjusted risk ratio
(95% CI)*
Hospitalised infection in the first 3 days
 Overall6/1248 (0.5)162/34 886 (0.5)1.04 (0.46 to 2.33)0.97 (0.43 to 2.23)
 Term birth5/1080 (0.5)159/33 291 (0.5)0.97 (0.40 to 2.36)0.91 (0.37 to 2.22)
 Preterm birth (32–37 weeks)1/136 (0.7)3/1354 (0.2)NENE
 Very preterm birth (<32 weeks)0/32 (0.0)0/241 (0.0)NENE
Hospitalised infection in the first month of life
 Overall22/1248 (1.8)485/34 886 (1.4)1.27 (0.83 to 1.94)1.25 (0.81 to 1.91)
 Term birth19/1080 (1.8)473/33 291 (1.4)1.24 (0.79 to 1.95)1.21 (0.77 to 1.92)
 Preterm birth (32–37 weeks)3/136 (2.2)12/1354 (0.9)NENE
 Very preterm birth (<32 weeks)0/32 (0.0)0/241 (0.0)NENE
Hospitalised infection in the first year of life
 Overall73/1248 (5.8)1923/34 886 (5.5)1.06 (0.85 to 1.33)1.13 (0.90 to 1.42)
 Term birth59/1080 (5.5)1776/33 291 (5.3)1.02 (0.80 to 1.32)1.10 (0.85 to 1.41)
 Preterm birth (32–37 weeks)11/136 (8.1)110/1354 (8.1)1.00 (0.55 to 1.80)1.03 (0.56 to 1.88)
 Very preterm birth (<32 weeks)3/32 (9.4)37/241 (15.4)0.61 (0.20 to 1.87)0.64 (0.20 to 1.97)
  • Hospitalised infections are defined as International Classification of Diseases-coded visits listing infection as the primary diagnosis in the inpatient component of the National Patient Register.

  • *Models are adjusted for maternal age at delivery (continuous), maternal first-trimester smoking (yes/no/missing) and calendar year (continuous).

  • NE, not estimatable due to low number of events.