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Published on: February 9, 2022
Gender differences in respiratory symptoms in 19-year-old adults born preterm
Elianne J L E Vrijlandt1, Jorrit Gerritsen, H Marike Boezen
1Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Beatrix Children's Hospital Groningen, UMCG University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. e.j.l.e.vrijlandt@bkk.umcg.nl
Insights
Young adults born prematurely have increased respiratory issues like asthma and wheezing, with women experiencing more symptoms than men. Atopic conditions such as hay fever and eczema are less common in this group compared to the general population.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Neonatology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Preterm birth is associated with increased risks for adverse respiratory and atopic outcomes.
- Bronchopulmonary Disease (BPD) is a significant neonatal complication affecting long-term respiratory health.
- Understanding the long-term respiratory health of preterm survivors is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of respiratory and atopic symptoms in young adults born prematurely.
- To compare respiratory health between preterm individuals with and without a history of Bronchopulmonary Disease (BPD).
- To investigate sex-based differences in respiratory health among preterm-born young adults.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide prospective cohort study was conducted in The Netherlands.
- 690 young adults (19 years old) born preterm (gestational age < 32 weeks and/or birth weight < 1500g) were assessed.
- Respiratory and atopic symptoms were evaluated using the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire, with comparisons to a control group.
Main Results:
- Preterm survivors exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma compared to the general population.
- Women born prematurely reported more wheeze and shortness of breath, particularly during exercise, than controls.
- Young women with a history of Bronchopulmonary Disease (BPD) showed a markedly higher prevalence of asthma and shortness of breath during exercise compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Preterm birth is linked to a higher incidence of asthma, wheeze, and shortness of breath in young adulthood.
- Female sex is associated with a greater burden of respiratory symptoms among preterm survivors.
- Contrary to expectations, atopic conditions like hay fever and eczema were less prevalent in preterm-born individuals compared to the general population.
Objective:
To study the prevalence of respiratory and atopic symptoms in (young) adults born prematurely, differences between those who did and did not develop Bronchopulmonary Disease (BPD) at neonatal age and differences in respiratory health between males and females.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
Nation wide follow-up study, The Netherlands.
Participants:
690 adults (19 year old) born with a gestational age below 32 completed weeks and/or with a birth weight less than 1500 g. Controls were Dutch participants of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS).
Main Outcome Measures:
Presence of wheeze, shortness of breath, asthma, hay fever and eczema using the ECRHS-questionnaire
Results:
The prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma was significantly higher in the ex-preterms than in the general population, whereas eczema and hay fever were significant lower. Women reported more symptoms than men. Preterm women vs controls: asthma 13% vs 5% (p < 0.001); hay fever 8% vs 20% (p < 0.001); eczema 10% vs 42% (p < 0.001). Preterm men vs controls: asthma 9% vs 4% (p = 0.007); hay fever 8% vs 17% (p = 0.005); eczema 9% vs 31% (p < 0.001) Preterm women reported more wheeze and shortness of breath during exercise (sob) than controls: wheeze 30% vs 22% (p = 0.009); sob 27% vs 16% (p < 0.001); 19-year-old women with BPD reported a higher prevalence of doctor diagnosed asthma compared to controls (24% vs 5% p < 0.001) and shortness of breath during exercise (43% vs 16% p = 0.008). The prevalence of reported symptoms by men with BPD were comparable with the controls.
Conclusion:
Our large follow-up study shows a higher prevalence of asthma, wheeze and shortness of breath in the prematurely born young adults. 19-year-old women reported more respiratory symptoms than men. Compared to the general population atopic diseases as hay fever and eczema were reported less often.
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