Severity and prevalence of ankyloglossia-associated breastfeeding symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis
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In brief
In brief
This systematic review of 5,730 infants demonstrates that ankyloglossia significantly impairs breastfeeding success, with affected dyads showing suboptimal LATCH scores, elevated maternal nipple pain, and 20% early weaning rates before intervention. Nearly half of tongue-tied infants experience breastfeeding difficulties, with mothers at high risk of cessation within 1-3 months.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Aim: To evaluate breastfeeding symptoms associated with ankyloglossia/tongue-tie.
Methods: Databases included PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies reported baseline breastfeeding symptoms/severity from tongue-tied infants. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality. Low-quality studies were excluded. Main outcomes were weighted mean severity scores for dyads with ankyloglossia relative to reference values for successful breastfeeding. Meta-analyses used inverse-variance-weighted random-effects models.
Results: Of 1328 screened studies, 39 were included (5730 infants with ankyloglossia). The mean LATCH score for patients with untreated ankyloglossia, 7.1 (95% CI: 6.7-7.4), was significantly below the good-breastfeeding threshold. The mean Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool score, 10.0 (8.2-11.7), was not significantly below the good-breastfeeding threshold. The mean Infant-Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire-Revised score, 18.2 (10.5-26.0), was consistent with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The mean Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form score, 43.7 (39.3-48.1), indicated significant risk of cessation of exclusive breastfeeding within 1-3 months. Mean nipple pain was 4.9 (4.1-5.7) on a 0-10 scale, greater than typical scores for breastfeeding mothers without nipple damage. Total prevalence of breastfeeding difficulties was 49.3% (95% CI: 47.3-51.4%). Early, undesired weaning occurred in 20.3% (18.5-22.2%) of cases before intervention.
Conclusion: Ankyloglossia is adversely associated with breastfeeding success and maternal well-being.
DOI: 10.1111/apa.16609