Distinct trajectories of lung function from childhood to mid-adulthood

Life course trajectories of lung function development and decline influence the risk for lung disease but are poorly documented.

To document lung function trajectories from childhood to mid-adult life.

We modelled forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV₁/FVC at ages 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21, 26, 32, 38 and 45 years from a population-based cohort using latent profile analysis to identify distinct subgroups of participants with similar lung function trajectories. Regression analyses were used to assess associations between the trajectories, early life factors and postbronchodilator airflow obstruction at age 45.

Among 865 participants with ≥6 measures of lung function, we identified 10 distinct FEV₁ trajectories. Most were approximately parallel except for a childhood airway hyper-responsiveness-related persistently low trajectory (3% of study population); two accelerated-decline trajectories, one of which (8%) was associated with smoking and higher adult body mass index (BMI) and a catch-up trajectory (8%). Findings for FEV₁/FVC trajectories were similar. Nine trajectories were identified for FVC: most were also approximately parallel except for a higher BMI-related accelerated-decline trajectory. The three FEV₁ trajectories leading to the lowest FEV₁ values comprised 19% of the cohort but contributed 55% of airflow obstruction at age 45.

Lung function trajectories to mid-adult life are largely established before adolescence, with a few exceptions: a childhood airway hyper-responsiveness-related persistently low trajectory, which starts low and gets worse with age, and accelerated adult decline trajectories associated with smoking and obesity. Adverse trajectories are associated with a high risk of airflow obstruction in mid-adult life.