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Respiratory illness in families of preterm infants with chronic lung disease
J P de Winter1, L van Sonderen, J N van den Anker
1Leiden University, Department of Paediatrics, The Netherlands.
Insights
Chronic lung disease of the newborn (CLDN) in preterm infants was not linked to a family history of asthma, COPD, or allergies. This study found no genetic predisposition for these respiratory conditions in families of infants with CLDN.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Genetics
Background:
- Chronic lung disease of the newborn (CLDN) affects preterm infants.
- The potential genetic or familial links between CLDN and other respiratory conditions require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between CLDN in preterm infants and lower respiratory illness (LRI) in siblings.
- To determine if CLDN is linked to asthma, COPD, or allergies in parents and grandparents.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from 209 preterm infants (born before 32 weeks gestation).
- Questionnaires assessed family history of respiratory illnesses.
- Statistical analysis compared LRI prevalence in families with and without CLDN.
Main Results:
- CLDN was diagnosed in 14.8% of the study cohort.
- No significant difference in LRI prevalence was found in siblings of infants with or without CLDN.
- Prevalence of asthma, COPD, and allergies in parents and grandparents was similar across groups.
- Infants with CLDN showed a higher prevalence of LRI compared to those without CLDN and term siblings.
Conclusions:
- The findings do not support a genetic or familial predisposition for asthma, COPD, or allergies in preterm infants with CLDN.
- CLDN in preterm infants appears unrelated to inherited susceptibility to common adult lung diseases.
Abstract:
AIMS--To examine the relation, based on two types of questionnaires, between (1) chronic lung disease of the newborn (CLDN) and lower respiratory illness (LRI) in siblings, and between (2) CLDN and asthma, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD), or allergy in parents and grandparents. METHODS--Data from 209 children born before 32 weeks of gestation were randomly taken from the records of three neonatal units. Taking into account age and gender, the excess of LRI was calculated for each family compared with the average of all families. Subsequently whether CLDN was associated with an excess of LRI in the family was tested. RESULTS--Thirty one (14.8%) children were diagnosed as having CLDN. The family probability index for LRI did not differ between children with or without CLDN. The prevalence of COPD, asthma, and allergy in parents of children with CLDN was similar to that of children without CLDN. The prevalence of LRI was 18.1% in study children, 29.6% in children with CLDN, and 16.9% in children without CLDN (P < 0.01). These prevalences were higher compared with that of a group of term siblings (9.3%) (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS--These findings suggest that CLDN in preterm children is not related to a genetic or familial predisposition towards asthma, COPD, or allergy.