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Birth weight and prematurity with lung function at ~17.5 years: "Children of 1997" birth cohort

Baoting He1, Man Ki Kwok1, Shiu Lun Au Yeung1

  • 1School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.

Scientific Reports
|January 17, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Prematurity and lower birth weight are linked to reduced lung function in adolescents. These findings highlight the importance of early life factors for long-term respiratory health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)

Background:

  • Prematurity and low birth weight are potential risk factors for impaired lung development.
  • Socioeconomic factors can confound the relationship between early life conditions and later health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prematurity, birth weight, and lung function in a developed non-Western setting.
  • To assess lung function at adolescence, accounting for socioeconomic and other potential confounders.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from Hong Kong's "Children of 1997" birth cohort.
  • Employed multivariable linear regression to analyze associations.
  • Assessed lung function measures including FEV1, FVC, and FEF25-75% at approximately 17.5 years of age.

Main Results:

  • Lower birth weight was associated with poorer lung function (FEV1, FVC, FEF25-75%), with stronger effects observed in boys.
  • Preterm birth was linked to reduced FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF25-75% compared to full-term birth.
  • Associations remained significant after adjusting for age, socioeconomic position, and infant/maternal characteristics.

Conclusions:

  • Confirms the association of lower birth weight and prematurity with diminished lung function in late adolescence.
  • Suggests that early life factors have lasting impacts on pulmonary health.
  • Recommends further research into underlying mechanisms to improve prevention of adult respiratory diseases.

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