Very prematurely born infants wheezing at follow-up: lung function and risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether abnormalities of lung volume and/or airway function were associated with wheeze at follow-up in infants born very prematurely and to identify risk factors for wheeze.


METHODS
Lung function data obtained at 1 year of age were collated from two cohorts of infants recruited into the UKOS and an RSV study, respectively.


METHODS
Infant pulmonary function laboratory.


METHODS
111 infants (mean gestational age 26.3 (SD 1.6) weeks).


METHODS
Lung function measurements at 1 year of age corrected for gestational age at birth. Diary cards and respiratory questionnaires were completed to document wheeze.


METHODS
Functional residual capacity (FRC(pleth) and FRC(He)), airways resistance (R(aw)), FRC(He):FRC(pleth) and tidal breathing parameters (T(PTEF):T(E)).


RESULTS
The 60 infants who wheezed at follow-up had significantly lower mean FRC(He), FRC(He):FRC(pleth) and T(PTEF):T(E), but higher mean R(aw) than the 51 without wheeze. Regression analysis demonstrated that gestational age, length at assessment, family history of atopy and a low FRC(He):FRC(pleth) were significantly associated with wheeze.


CONCLUSIONS
Wheeze at follow-up in very prematurely born infants is associated with gas trapping, suggesting abnormalities of the small airways.
Broughton
Simon
S
MRC-Asthma Centre, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
Thomas
Mark R
MR
Marston
Louise
L
Calvert
Sandra A
SA
Marlow
Neil
N
Peacock
Janet L
JL
Rafferty
Gerrard F
GF
Greenough
Anne
A
D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
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