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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
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Published on: October 31, 2025

Impaired lung function and bronchodilator responsiveness in former very preterm infants at preschool age: associated

Michaela Höck1, Anna Zschocke2, Ulrike Pupp Peglow1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics II (Neonatology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|August 20, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Children born very preterm often have abnormal lung function and increased bronchodilator responsiveness by preschool age. Factors like prolonged ventilation and respiratory infections are linked to poorer pulmonary outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Neonatology
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Preterm birth significantly impacts lung development.
  • Children born very preterm face risks of impaired pulmonary function.
  • Understanding long-term respiratory outcomes is crucial for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate lung function and bronchodilator responsiveness in preschool-aged children born very preterm.
  • To identify perinatal and postnatal factors associated with abnormal spirometry results.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of infants born before 32 weeks gestation or <1500g.
  • Spirometry performed at preschool age, with and without bronchodilator.
  • Analysis of factors including ventilation duration, medication, and family history.

Main Results:

  • 31% of assessed children (n=93) had abnormal spirometry.
  • Abnormal spirometry group showed greater bronchodilator responsiveness (15.0% vs 4.9% FEV1 change).
  • Factors associated with abnormal spirometry included longer invasive ventilation, glucocorticoid therapy, respiratory infections, and atopic predisposition.

Conclusions:

  • Persistent expiratory lung function abnormalities and increased bronchodilator responsiveness are common in very preterm children at preschool age.
  • Longer invasive ventilation, glucocorticoid therapy, recurrent infections, and atopic predisposition correlate with poorer lung function outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
bronchodilator responsivenesslung functionpreschool agepreterm infantsspirometry

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