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Fetal thoracic circumference in mid-pregnancy and infant lung function

Hrefna K Gudmundsdóttir1,2, Katarina Hilde1,3, Karen E S Bains1,2

  • 1Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|September 13, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Fetal thoracic circumference (TC) in mid-pregnancy did not predict infant lung function when adjusted for head or abdominal size. However, a weak association was found with fetal femur length, suggesting a potential link to infant lung development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Fetal Development
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Impaired infant lung function is linked to later asthma.
  • Fetal thoracic circumference (TC) indicates neonatal lung hypoplasia severity.
  • Understanding fetal origins of infant lung function is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between mid-pregnancy fetal TC and infant lung function.
  • To explore if fetal size measurements predict lung function in early infancy.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 851 infants in the PreventADALL birth cohort.
  • Measured fetal TC and infant tidal flow-volume (tPTEF /tE ) at 3 months.
  • Adjusted fetal TC for head, abdominal, and femur length to account for gestational age variation.

Main Results:

  • No association was found between fetal TC/HC or TC/AC and infant tPTEF /tE .
  • A weak inverse association was observed between fetal TC/FL and infant tPTEF /tE (p=0.01).

Conclusions:

  • Mid-pregnancy fetal TC, adjusted for head or abdominal size, does not predict infant lung function.
  • A weak association exists between fetal femur length and infant lung function, warranting further investigation.
Abstract

Keywords:
PreventADALLfemur lengthfetal sizeinfant lung functioninfant sexpregnancyrespiratory function testtPTEF/tEthoracic circumferencetidal breathingtidal flow-volume loopstidal volumeultrasound

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