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Foetal and infant growth patterns, airway resistance and school-age asthma

Agnes M M Sonnenschein-van der Voort1,2,3, Romy Gaillard1,3,4, Johan C de Jongste2

  • 1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Respirology (Carlton, Vic.)
|December 25, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Fetal growth restriction and slower infant growth are linked to higher airway resistance (Rint) in children. This increased Rint is associated with childhood asthma and persistent wheezing.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric respiratory health
  • Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)
  • Epidemiology of asthma

Background:

  • Preterm birth, low birth weight, and rapid infant weight gain are risk factors for childhood asthma.
  • Persistently higher airway resistance (Rint) may be a key mechanism linking early life factors to asthma.
  • Understanding the impact of fetal and infant growth on Rint and asthma is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between longitudinal fetal and infant growth patterns and airway resistance (Rint) at school age.
  • To examine the relationship between fetal and infant growth, Rint, and asthma outcomes in children.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, population-based cohort study in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Fetal growth assessed via ultrasound (second and third trimesters).
  • Infant growth measured at birth, 3, 6, and 12 months; Rint and asthma outcomes assessed at age 6 years.

Main Results:

  • Children with increased school-age Rint exhibited lower fetal length growth and weight gain, and reduced infant length growth.
  • Higher Rint was observed in children with persistent wheezing and physician-diagnosed asthma compared to controls.
  • Significant differences in Rint z-scores were found for children with persistent wheezing (0.58) and asthma (0.55).

Conclusions:

  • Airway resistance (Rint) in school-aged children is significantly influenced by fetal growth restriction.
  • Elevated Rint, linked to impaired fetal and infant growth, is associated with increased risk of asthma outcomes.
  • Findings highlight the importance of early life growth for respiratory health and asthma development.
Abstract

Keywords:
asthmacohort studyfoetal growthinfant growthwheezing

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