Effect of foetal and infant growth and body composition on respiratory outcomes in preterm-born children

Abstract

Body composition and growth outcomes of preterm-born subjects have been studied by many researchers. In general, preterm-born children have lower height and weight especially in infancy. Despite showing potential for catch-up growth, they continue to lag behind their term counterparts in adolescence and adulthood. The various methods of studying body composition and the differing gestations and ages at which it is assessed may go some way to explaining the inconsistent results observed in different studies. In addition, there is a paucity of data on the effects of foetal and infant growth and of body composition on later respiratory outcomes. In largely term-born subjects, foetal growth and growth trajectories appear to have differential effects on later respiratory outcomes. Early weight gain in infancy appears to be associated with increased respiratory symptoms in childhood but catch-up growth in infancy appears to be associated with possible improved lung function status.

Early life growth and associations with lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness at 11-years of age

“…In this study, we found positive associations between weight SDS at 6 months of age and FVC and negative associations of both weight SDS at 6 months and change in weight SDS from birth to 6 months with FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF25-75. These results are in line with several other studies reporting positive associations between postnatal growth variables and lung volumes, but negative associations with variables related to obstructive lung function [5][6][7]28]. There are several suggestions behind these findings.…”

“…The associations between anthropometric measures and later respiratory outcomes such as asthma and lung function have been examined by many. The results vary between study populations and both positive, negative and no associations have been reported, which may be due to different ages of follow-up and different definitions of exposures and outcomes [2,7] . In this study, we found positive associations between weight SDS at 6 months of age and FVC and negative associations of both weight SDS at 6 months and change in weight SDS from birth to 6 months with FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF25-75.…”

“…We and others have reported positive associations between various growth variables during childhood and forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and negative associations with the FEV1/FVC ratio [5][6][7]. A previous study from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort study (MoBa) found a positive association between peak weight velocity from birth to 36 months of age and childhood asthma at 36 months of age [8].…”

Length at birth z-score is inversely associated with an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death in preterm infants born before 32 gestational weeks: A nationwide cohort study

“…[23] However, there is a paucity of data regarding the relationship between height and lung growth and development. [24,25] The relationship between fetal length and fetal lung growth and development remains to be revealed. BPD is a developmental disorder of the lungs that occurs predominantly in premature infants.…”