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Published on: February 21, 2011

Adverse effects of smoking on respiratory function in young adults born weighing less than 1000 grams

Lex W Doyle1, Anthony Olinsky, Brenda Faber

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. lwd@unimelb.edu.au

Pediatrics
|September 2, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Young adults born extremely low birth weight (ELBW) who smoke experience reduced respiratory function. Smoking significantly diminishes airflow and worsens lung function decline over time in ELBW survivors.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Neonatology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g) survivors face long-term health challenges.
  • Respiratory health is a critical concern for ELBW individuals into adulthood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of active smoking on the respiratory function of young adult survivors of ELBW.
  • To compare respiratory parameters between smokers and nonsmokers within this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study followed 60 ELBW survivors born 1977-1980.
  • Respiratory function was assessed at mean age 20.2 years in 44 participants.
  • Pulmonary function was compared between 14 smokers and 30 nonsmokers.

Main Results:

  • Smokers exhibited significantly diminished airflow, including reduced forced expired volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV(1)/FVC) ratio.
  • A higher proportion of smokers (64%) had clinically significant reductions in FEV(1)/FVC (<75%) compared to nonsmokers (20%).
  • Smokers showed a greater decline in FEV(1)/FVC ratio between ages 8 and 20 years.

Conclusions:

  • Active smoking is associated with impaired respiratory function in young adult ELBW survivors.
  • Early-life adversity combined with smoking exacerbates respiratory deficits.
Abstract

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