title: A systematic review of early life factors which adversely affect subsequent lung function.
abstract: It has been known for many years that multiple early life factors can adversely affect lung function and future respiratory health. This is the first systematic review to attempt to analyse all these factors simultaneously. We adhered to strict a priori criteria for inclusion and exclusion of studies. The initial search yielded 29,351 citations of which 208 articles were reviewed in full and 25 were included in the review. This included 6 birth cohorts and 19 longitudinal population studies. The 25 studies reported the effect of 74 childhood factors (on their own or in combinations with other factors) on subsequent lung function reported as percent predicted forced expiration in one second (FEV1). The childhood factors that were associated with a significant reduction in future FEV1could be grouped as: early infection, bronchial hyper-reactivity (BHR) / airway lability, a diagnosis of asthma, wheeze, family history of atopy or asthma, respiratory symptoms and prematurity / low birth weight. A complete mathematical model will only be possible if the raw data from all previous studies is made available. This highlights the need for increased cooperation between researchers and the need for international consensus about the outcome measures for future longitudinal studies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK; School of Health Rehabilitation, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kouzouna
authors.affiliation: Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK; Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle Road, ST4 6QG.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.affiliation: School of Health Rehabilitation, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: School of Computing, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kyriacou
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK; School of Health Rehabilitation, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pandyan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK; Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke on Trent, Newcastle Road, ST4 6QG. Electronic address: Warren.lenney@uhns.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lenney
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Asthma; Bronchial hyper-reactivity; Bronchiolitis; COPD; Infection; Lung function; Paediatrics; Prematurity