Lung function in children of low birth weight.

Abstract

SUMMARY Lung function was recorded in a cohort of 130 age specific children of low birth weight (under 2000 g) and a reference population of 120 unselected local schoolchildren at 7 years of age. Children of the cohort were similar in height and forced vital capacity to the reference group, but had significantly reduced forced expiratory volume in 0-75 second and expiratory flow indices. Although neonatal respiratory illness was associated with reduced airway function, we were unable to confirm that this was a consequence of oxygen treatment or mechanical ventilation. Low birth weight, however, was closely associated with poor airway function independent of neonatal respiratory illness. Other factors of importance included the male gender and maternal smoking. The reduction in airway function observed in the low birthweight children was associated with cough but not wheeze. The disparity between the relatively well preserved vital capacity and reduced airway function suggests that very low birth weight, and hence prematurity, has its greatest effect on the subsequent growth of airway function.

Lung function after extremely preterm birth—A population‐based cohort study (EXPRESS)

“…Others have-independent of gestational age-found a link between low birth weight and reduced lung function assessed with spirometry in infancy and at school age. 33,34 Greenough et al reported…”

Length at Birth and Effect of Prenatal and Postnatal Factors on early Wheezing Phenotypes. Kraków Epidemiologic Cohort Study

“…For instance, the recent study concerning over 2000 British women found a positive association between birth weight and lung function at the age of 60-79 years [43]. Other studies reported positive association between birth weight and respiratory health or lung function measured in adulthood [44][45][46][47]. Naturally, the inverse association between infant's length at birth and early wheezing cannot simply be due to the smaller size of the child, but possibly results from the fact exposure to ETS, presence of dampness/moulds in the house, maternal atopy and parity, but inversely correlated with the size of the baby at delivery.…”

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Asthma in School Going Children in South India

“…Other studies have also reported a high prevalence of asthma among children born LBW 25 . The reason could be multifactorial such as prematurity, invasive lung ventilation during neonatal period and recurrent respiratory illness during early childhood 26,27,28 . It was earlier thought that LBW was more common in families living in an unhealthy environment making them prone to wheezing.…”