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[Respiratory symptoms in children with low birth weight with or without perinatal respiratory insufficiency]
1Universitätskinderklinik Freiburg/Breisgau.
Insights
Children born with low birth weight who experienced perinatal respiratory insufficiency (PRI) did not show increased respiratory symptoms at school age. This study suggests PRI does not impact long-term respiratory health in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant risk factor for adverse health outcomes.
- Perinatal respiratory insufficiency (PRI) affects a subset of LBW infants, requiring medical intervention.
- The long-term respiratory effects of PRI in LBW children are not well-established.
Purpose:
- To investigate the association between perinatal respiratory insufficiency (PRI) and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms at school age in children born with low birth weight.
Summary:
- A study examined 104 eight-year-old children with low birth weight (<2500 grams).
- Eighteen children had a history of PRI, with some requiring oxygen or mechanical ventilation.
- Children with and without a history of PRI showed similar rates of cough after exercise, wheezing, and frequent cough.
- Logistic regression analysis confirmed no significant difference in respiratory symptoms between groups.
Impact:
- Findings indicate that perinatal respiratory insufficiency does not appear to be associated with increased respiratory symptoms in school-aged children of low birth weight.
- This research contributes to understanding the developmental outcomes of LBW infants with neonatal respiratory challenges.
- Suggests a need for further research into other potential long-term impacts of PRI in this population.
Abstract:
We recorded prevalence of respiratory symptoms in 104 school children aged eight years (+/- 0.4 years) who were born with a weight below 2500 grams. Perinatal respiratory insufficiency (PRI) was observed in 18 children. Validation by medical records in 14 cases demonstrated that 7 children had been oxygen dependent over 1-5 days after birth, the other 7 children had required mechanical ventilation from 2 days up to 4 month. Children with a history of PRI did not suffer more frequently from "cough after exercise" (17%), "wheezing" (50%) or "frequent cough" (11%) than healthy children of low birthweight. Corresponding values were 26%, 38%, and 18% respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses confirmed these observations. In children with a low birthweight PRI is not associated with respiratory symptoms at school age.