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Lung function and clinical risk factors for asthma in infants and young children with recurrent wheeze

L M Borrego1, J Stocks, P Leiria-Pinto

  • 1Serviço de Imunoalergologia, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central-Hospital de Dona Estefania, Lisboa, Portugal. miguel.borrego@sapo.pt

Thorax
|November 15, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Infants with recurrent wheezing show reduced lung function, especially those with asthma risk factors. This study highlights impaired respiratory function in early life for wheezy infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Childhood Asthma Research

Background:

  • Recurrent wheeze in infants is common, but its association with lung function and future asthma risk is not fully understood.
  • Identifying early indicators of respiratory impairment is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Several risk factors for developing asthma have been identified in young children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess lung function in infants aged 8-20 months with recurrent wheeze compared to healthy controls.
  • To determine if clinical risk factors for asthma influence lung function in these infants.
  • To investigate the relevance of lung function assessment in early childhood wheeze.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized tidal and raised volume rapid thoracoabdominal compression maneuvers to measure forced expiratory flows and volumes.
  • Included steroid-naïve infants with at least 3 episodes of physician-confirmed wheeze and healthy controls.
  • Obtained technically acceptable results in 50 wheezy children and 30 controls with the tidal technique.

Main Results:

  • Infants with recurrent wheeze exhibited significantly reduced z scores for forced expiratory volume at 0.5 seconds (FEV0.5), forced expired flow after 75% FVC (FEF25), and average forced expired flow over the mid 50% of FVC (FEF25-75) compared to controls.
  • Wheezy infants with asthma risk factors showed significantly lower forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEF25-75 z scores than those without risk factors.
  • Adjustments were made for sex, age, body length, and maternal smoking.

Conclusions:

  • Airway function is demonstrably reduced in young children experiencing recurrent wheeze.
  • This impairment is more pronounced in wheezy infants who also present with clinical risk factors for developing asthma.
  • Findings support the link between early-life clinical risk factors and compromised respiratory function.
Abstract

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