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Lung function measures and their relationship to respiratory symptoms in 7- and 8-year-old children
J H Droste1, M H Wieringa, J J Weyler
1Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
Insights
Children experiencing exercise-induced wheeze or chronic cough may have significantly reduced lung function (FEV1, FEF25-75). Early identification of these respiratory symptoms is crucial for predicting future lung health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Child Health
Background:
- Childhood pulmonary dysfunction is a predictor of adult lung impairment.
- Early identification of reduced lung function in children is clinically significant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between asthma-like respiratory symptoms and lung function in schoolchildren.
- To identify key predictors of decreased lung function in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Population-based sample of 402 schoolchildren aged 7-8 years.
- Linear regression analyses to assess lung function parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75).
- Stepwise elimination of symptoms to identify significant predictors.
Main Results:
- Wheeze, exercise-induced wheeze, chronic cough, and early respiratory infections were initially associated with reduced lung function.
- Exercise-induced wheeze and chronic cough remained significant predictors of decreased FEV1 and FEF25-75.
- No significant differences were observed between FEV1 and FEF25-75 effects after variability adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Exercise-induced wheeze and chronic cough are significant indicators of reduced lung function in early school-aged children.
- Children reporting these symptoms may have a considerable lung function deficit.
- Early recognition of these symptoms is vital for potential interventions.
Abstract:
Abnormal pulmonary function in childhood is a well-known risk factor for lung function impairment in adult life. It is therefore of clinical interest to recognize lower pulmonary function in childhood. We investigated the association between asthma-like respiratory symptoms and the lung function parameters FVC, FEV1, and FEF(25-75) in a population-based sample of 402 schoolchildren, aged 7 and 8 years, using linear regression analyses. Without accounting for other respiratory symptoms, wheeze, exercise-induced wheeze, chronic cough, and history of wheezy bronchitis or lower respiratory infections in early childhood were significantly associated with reduced lung function. After stepwise elimination of symptoms from the regression models, only exercise-induced wheeze (FEV1, -15%pred, FEF(25-75), -21%pred) and a history of chronic cough (FEV1, -5%pred; FEF(25-75), -11%pred) remained significant predictors of decreased lung function. After adjustment for different variability, no significant differences were seen between the effects of symptoms on the flow measurements FEV1 and FEF(25-75). We conclude that children who report exercise-induced wheeze and/or chronic cough may have a considerable deficit in lung function at early school age.