Peripubertal lung growth pattern in Japanese school children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Growth and Development
• Biometrics

Background:

• Peripubertal lung function growth relative to height remains poorly understood.
• Understanding these patterns is crucial for assessing respiratory health during childhood development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the relationship between peak lung function growth velocity and peak height velocity (APHV).
• To identify sex-specific differences in lung function growth trajectories during peripuberty.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of 2099 children (aged 9-15) measuring lung function and height annually from 2011-2018.
• Utilized the Super Imposition by Translation and Rotation (SITR) model for quarterly categorization based on APHV.
• Analyzed peak growth velocity timing for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) relative to APHV.

Main Results:

• Peak growth velocity for FVC and FEV1 occurred 2-12 months after APHV, with a trend for later APHV to show a greater lag.
• Males exhibited a U-shaped trajectory for FEV1/FVC ratio, decreasing then increasing with age, unlike females.
• Males showed significantly greater FVC and FEV1 than females once height surpassed 150-160 cm.

Conclusions:

• Peripubertal lung growth exhibits considerable variability in relation to height.
• Distinct sex-based differences exist in the growth patterns of airway and parenchymal lung components during this developmental stage.