Lung Function in a Cohort of Italian Children Born Preterm

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p><jats:bold>Background and aim</jats:bold>: in children born preterm lung development may be affected with impairment of lung function in later ages. The aim of the study was assessing lung function in a cohort of school-aged children born preterm and assess the influence of perinatal variables. <jats:bold>Methods: </jats:bold>we measured lung function with impulse oscillometry system (IOS) and spirometry in 54 children [(male 48.1%, mean age 8.1 (0.8)] born preterm [mean birth weight (BW) 1462 (546.9) g, mean gestational age 31.5 (3) weeks] at Parma Children University Hospital (Italy). Maternal and perinatal data and respiratory medical history were also collected.<jats:bold>Results: </jats:bold>compared to predicted values, children born preterm showed higher mean values of airway impedance Z, airway resistance R5, R20, R5-20, area under the reactance curve AX and resonance frequency Fres, lower mean values of reactance X5 and FEF<jats:sub>25-75</jats:sub>. The mean difference between observed and predicted values of R5-R20 was higher in children born small for gestational age than in those born appropriate for gestational age. An inverse relationship was found between BW z-score and Z (r -0.40, r<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> 0.16; p 0.012) and R5 (r -0.44, r<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> 0.20; p 0.005) in children born with a BW &lt;1500 g. Thirty-one per cent of children had a history of wheezing and 14.8% a history of lower respiratory infection requiring admission to the hospital.<jats:bold>Conclusions: </jats:bold>school-aged children born preterm had an impaired lung function, especially in the peripheral airways, as resulted by IOS and spirometry assessment. BW may have a role in lung development.</jats:p>