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A population-based prospective cohort study examining the influence of early-life respiratory tract infections on

Evelien R van Meel1,2,3, Herman T den Dekker1,2,3, Niels J Elbert1,4

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

Thorax
|November 5, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Early-life lower respiratory tract infections in children under 3 years old are linked to reduced lung function and higher asthma risk later in life. These findings highlight the importance of addressing early respiratory infections for long-term respiratory health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
  • Epidemiology
  • Allergy and Immunology

Background:

  • Early-life respiratory infections are suspected to influence long-term airway health and asthma development.
  • Previous research on the association between early respiratory infections and later asthma risk has yielded inconsistent findings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between early-life respiratory tract infections and lung function in school-aged children.
  • To determine the association between early-life respiratory tract infections and the risk of developing asthma.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study involving 5197 children.
  • Annual questionnaires collected data on physician-attended respiratory infections until age 6.
  • Lung function (spirometry) and asthma diagnoses were assessed at age 10.

Main Results:

  • Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children ≤3 years were associated with significantly reduced lung function (FEV1, FVC, FEF75) and increased asthma risk (OR 1.79).
  • LRTI between ages >3-6 years were associated with an increased asthma risk (OR 3.53) but not with lung function deficits.
  • Upper respiratory tract infections showed no association with adverse respiratory outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Early-life lower respiratory tract infections, particularly those occurring by age 3, are consistently linked to diminished lung function and a greater likelihood of asthma in school-aged children.
  • These associations were independent of antibiotic use, paracetamol, or preschool wheezing patterns.
Abstract

Keywords:
asthmaclinical epidemiologyrespiratory infection

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