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The Association of Multiparity with Lung Function and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-Related Phenotypes
Matthew Moll1,2, Elizabeth A Regan3, John E Hokanson4
1Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Background:
Apparent increased female susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suggests sex hormones modulate disease pathogenesis. Little is known about associations between multiparity and lung function in smokers.
Research Question:
We hypothesized that multiparity is associated with lung function and measures of emphysema and airway disease.
Study Design And Methods:
Utilizing female participants from the 5-year follow up of the COPD Genetic Epidemiology (COPDGene®) study we performed multivariable linear regressions to assess the effect of multiparity and number of pregnancies on forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) percentage of predicted (% predicted), FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC), percent emphysema on computed tomography (CT) scans, and Pi10, a measure of airway thickening. We sampled never smokers and those with lower smoking exposure from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012 dataset.
Results:
We included 1820 participants from COPDGene® and 418 participants from NHANES (321 never smokers, 97 ever smokers). In COPDGene®, multiparity (beta coefficient [β] = -3.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [-6.5, -1.1], p = 0.005) and higher number of pregnancies were associated with lower FEV1 % predicted. Multiparity was not associated with percent emphysema or Pi10. In individuals with no or mild obstruction, multiparity was associated with lower FEV1 % predicted. There was an interaction with multiparity and age on FEV1 % predicted (p = 0.025). In NHANES, there was no association between multiparity and FEV1 % predicted in never smokers or the lower smoking exposure group.
Interpretation:
Multiparity was associated with lower FEV1 % predicted in current and former smokers in COPDGene® study participants. These preliminary results emphasize the importance of smoking abstinence in women of child-bearing age.
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