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Auricular Acupressure as an Adjuvant Treatment for Wheezing in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Reduced airway function in early adulthood among subjects with wheezing disorder before two years of age

Emma Goksör1, Per M Gustafsson, Bernt Alm

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Göteborg University, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. emma.goksor@vgregion.se

Pediatric Pulmonology
|February 29, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children with early-life wheezing show reduced airway function in adulthood. Female gender and current asthma are key risk factors for this persistent lung impairment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Longitudinal Cohort Studies

Background:

  • Infant wheezing is a common respiratory issue with potential long-term consequences.
  • Understanding the persistence of respiratory symptoms and lung function deficits into adulthood is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare adult airway function in individuals with a history of infant wheezing against age-matched controls.
  • To identify factors contributing to differences in lung function.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 101 children hospitalized for wheezing before age two.
  • Re-evaluation at ages 17-20 years using spirometry, bronchial hyper-responsiveness testing, and allergy assessments.
  • Comparison with a control group of 294 age-matched individuals.

Main Results:

  • Cohort subjects exhibited significantly lower FEV1/FVC ratios and MEF50 compared to controls.
  • Reduced lung function was most pronounced in females with current asthma.
  • Independent risk factors for reduced airway function included female gender, early wheezing history, and current bronchial hyper-responsiveness.

Conclusions:

  • Individuals with a history of early-life wheezing demonstrate impaired airway function in early adulthood.
  • Female sex and current asthma are significant predictors of persistent reduced lung function.
Abstract

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