Clinical Pulmonary Function Testing for Children with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Pulmonology
• Neonatology

Background:

• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) affects many extremely preterm survivors, often defined by oxygen needs past 36 weeks postmenstrual age.
• While respiratory symptoms may seem to resolve, persistent lung function deficits pose lifelong risks.
• Current follow-up often prioritizes neurological issues, potentially overlooking long-term respiratory sequelae.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the persistent respiratory risks in extremely preterm children with BPD.
• To emphasize the underutilization of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in clinical management.
• To explore the potential role of PFTs in assessing school-aged children and adolescents with BPD history.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing research on PFTs in BPD survivors from infancy to adulthood.
• Analysis of the current clinical application and limitations of PFTs in managing BPD.
• Identification of specific PFT applications for school-aged and adolescent BPD survivors.

Main Results:

• PFTs are underused in clinical settings despite their research utility.
• PFTs have limited application in infants and preschoolers due to developmental factors.
• PFTs show potential for diagnosing asthma, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, and pulmonary hypertension in older children.

Conclusions:

• Extremely preterm survivors with BPD face enduring lung function deficits and increased risk of adult lung disease.
• Objective PFT assessments are crucial for school-aged and adolescent BPD survivors to guide management and predict long-term outcomes.
• Integrating PFTs into clinical practice is essential for comprehensive care of BPD survivors.