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Small for gestational age birth may increase airflow limitation in bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Yoon Hee Kim1,2, Kyung Won Kim2,3, Ho Sun Eun2,4

  • 1Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|December 4, 2019
PubMed

Insights

The tidal breathing ratio (tPEF /tE) is a key indicator of infant pulmonary function, showing lower values in severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Small for gestational age (SGA) infants with BPD may have poorer lung function.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication in preterm infants, affecting long-term respiratory health.
  • Assessing pulmonary function in infants with BPD is crucial for understanding disease severity and predicting outcomes.
  • The impact of being small for gestational age (SGA) on pulmonary function in BPD requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify significant pulmonary function indices for assessing BPD severity in infants.
  • To evaluate the influence of SGA on pulmonary function in infants diagnosed with BPD.

Main Methods:

  • The study included 117 preterm infants assessed using tidal breathing flow-volume loops and multiple-breath washout within 7 months of birth.
  • Infants were categorized by BPD severity (mild/moderate, severe, none) and gestational age status (SGA or appropriate for gestational age - AGA).
  • Nine healthy term infants served as controls.

Main Results:

  • The tidal breathing ratio (time to peak expiratory flow/expiratory time [tPEF /tE]) was significantly lower in severe BPD compared to mild/moderate BPD.
  • Lung clearance index (LCI) did not differ based on BPD severity.
  • Lower tPEF /tE values were more prevalent in SGA infants, suggesting a potential association with poorer pulmonary function.

Conclusions:

  • The tPEF /tE ratio is a valuable index for assessing pulmonary function in infants with BPD, with lower values indicating more severe disease.
  • SGA status in infants with BPD may be linked to compromised pulmonary function, particularly reflected in the tPEF /tE ratio.
Abstract

Keywords:
bronchopulmonary dysplasiamultiple breath washoutprematuresmall for gestational agetidal breathing ratio

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