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Determinants of early-life lung function in African infants

Diane Gray1, Lauren Willemse1, Ane Visagie1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and MRC Unit on Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Thorax
|November 19, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Early infant lung function is influenced by maternal smoking, alcohol, HIV exposure, and household benzene. These factors highlight opportunities for public health interventions to improve child respiratory health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Environmental Health
  • Neonatal Health

Background:

  • Low lung function in early life is a predictor of later respiratory illnesses.
  • There is a significant lack of data on lung function in African infants, a population with a high burden of respiratory disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the key determinants of lung function in African infants.
  • To identify early-life factors influencing respiratory health in a South African birth cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Lung function was measured in 645 infants (aged 6-10 weeks) using tidal breathing, multiple breath washout, and forced oscillation techniques during natural sleep.
  • Data on antenatal and early postnatal exposures, including maternal smoking, alcohol use, HIV status, and household benzene levels, were collected via questionnaires and urine cotinine analysis.

Main Results:

  • Infant size, age, and male gender were associated with larger tidal volumes.
  • Maternal smoking was linked to lower tidal volumes and higher lung clearance index.
  • In utero alcohol or household benzene exposure correlated with reduced time to peak expiratory flow, while HIV exposure was associated with higher tidal volumes.

Conclusions:

  • Early lung function in African infants is significantly influenced by factors such as infant size, sex, maternal smoking, alcohol and HIV exposure, and household benzene.
  • Many identified determinants are modifiable through public health interventions, emphasizing the need for strategies to improve child respiratory health.
  • Long-term follow-up is crucial to understand the trajectory of lung function and respiratory disease in this cohort.
Abstract

Keywords:
Clinical EpidemiologyPaediatric Lung DisaeseRespiratory MeasurementTobacco and the lung

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