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Published on: September 16, 2019
Association of breastfeeding with tidal breathing analysis in infants with bronchiolitis
Evanthia Perikleous1, Sotirios Fouzas2, Athina Karageorgiou3
1Department of Pediatrics, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli 68100, Greece. eviperikleous@hotmail.com.
Insights
Infants recovering from bronchiolitis who were breastfed longer showed improved lung function measurements. Shorter breastfeeding duration or exposure to cigarette smoke was linked to obstructive lung disease indicators.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Neonatal Respiratory Health
- Infant Lung Mechanics
Background:
- Tidal breathing flow-volume (TBFV) analysis is crucial for assessing infant lung mechanics.
- Acute bronchiolitis is a common respiratory illness in infants, impacting lung function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of breastfeeding duration on TBFV measurements in infants post-bronchiolitis recovery.
- To determine if breastfeeding impacts bronchodilator response in infants with a history of bronchiolitis.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving TBFV analysis in infants before hospital discharge.
- Evaluation of the ratio of time to peak expiratory flow to total expiratory time (tPEF/tE) pre- and post-salbutamol administration.
Main Results:
- Longer breastfeeding duration (>2 months) correlated with a significantly greater change in tPEF/tE after bronchodilation (12% vs 0.9%, P < 0.001).
- A dose-response relationship was observed between breastfeeding duration and tPEF/tE reversibility (P < 0.001).
- Shorter breastfeeding and exposure to cigarette smoke independently predicted greater tPEF/tE changes post-bronchodilation.
Conclusions:
- Infants with shorter breastfeeding duration or cigarette smoke exposure exhibit TBFV patterns suggestive of obstructive lung disease post-bronchiolitis.
- Breastfeeding duration appears to be a protective factor influencing lung function recovery in infants after acute bronchiolitis.
Background:
Tidal breathing flow-volume (TBFV) analysis provides important information about lung mechanics in infants.
Aim:
To assess the effects of breastfeeding on the TBFV measurements of infants who recover from acute bronchiolitis.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, TBFV analysis was performed in infants with bronchiolitis prior to hospital discharge. The ratio of time to peak expiratory flow to total expiratory time (tPEF/tE) at baseline and after the administration of 400 mcg salbutamol was evaluated.
Results:
A total of 56 infants (35 boys), aged 7.4 ± 2.8 mo, were included. Of them, 12.5% were exposed to tobacco smoke and 41.1% were breastfed less than 2 mo. There were no differences in baseline TBFV measurements between the breastfeeding groups; however, those who breastfed longer than 2 mo had a greater change in tPEF/tE after bronchodilation (12% ± 10.4% vs 0.9% ± 7.1%; P < 0.001). Moreover, there was a clear dose-response relationship between tPEF/tE reversibility and duration of breastfeeding (P < 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, infants who breastfed less (regression coefficient -0.335, P = 0.010) or were exposed to cigarette smoke (regression coefficient 0.353, P = 0.007) showed a greater change in tPEF/tE after bronchodilation, independent of sex, prematurity, and family history of asthma or atopy.
Conclusion:
Infants who recover from bronchiolitis and have a shorter duration of breastfeeding or are exposed to cigarette smoke, have TBFV measurements indicative of obstructive lung disease.
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