Prematurity and Early Childhood Infection of Lower Respiratory Tract as Risk Factors of Developing Chronic Obstructive Bronchopulmonary Pathology in Adults

Abstract

The aim of the investigation was to study the impact of prematurity and severe infections of lower respiratory tract suffered in early childhood on the occurrence of chronic bronchopulmonary pathology in young adults.Materials and Methods. 25 men took part in the study: 16 adult patients born prematurely (n=10) or suffered infections of lower respiratory tract in early childhood (n=6), and 9 healthy volunteers as a control group. All patients filled in British Medical Research Council (mMRC scale) questionnaires of breathlessness rating, underwent spirometry with bronchodilatation test, 6-minute walk test with determination of blood oxygen saturation level, body plethysmography and examination of lung diffusion capacity.Results. Post-bronchodilator reversible obstruction of the peripheral airways (p<0.05), signs of static hyperinflation (p<0.05), and fibrous changes in the lung parenchyma (p<0.05) were revealed in all participants with bronchopulmonary pathology. Though no statistically significant differences in the influence of prematurity and infections of lower respiratory tract on the function of the respiratory system have been established, structural and functional alterations in the peripheral airways were more marked in the group of prematurely born patients. Statistically significant positive correlations (p<0.05) were revealed between gestation age and body mass at birth and parameters characterizing the function of the peripheral airways, as well as between the indices of static hyperinflation and the intensity of changes in the bronchi.Conclusion. The processes affecting the growth and development of the lungs, such as prematurity and severe infection of the lower respiratory tract suffered in early childhood, result in formation of structural and functional changes of the respiratory system, which promote the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Key words: infection of the lower respiratory tract; pulmonary consequences of prematurity; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.For contacts: Dmitriy Yu. Ovsyannikov, e-mail: mdovsyannikov@yahoo.com Pediatric Predictors of the Development of Chronic Obstructive Bronchopulmonary Pathology in AdultsChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multiple-factor illness characterized by actually irreversible restriction of the air flow velocity. A chronic hyperergic inflammatory response of the lung parenchyma to the effect of air pollutants and infection agents underlie its development [1]. According to the WHO data, about 600 million people with COPD are living in the world at present, and nearly 11 million of them in Russia. COPD is likely to become the third cause of mortality [2].The main etiologic factor of COPD in people over 40 years is tobacco smoking. However, in 3-11% of cases disease manifestation occurs at a younger age in non-smoking persons [3][4][5]. The causes of chronic bronchopulmonary pathology in the given group of patients are supposed to be such pathological factors as prematurity and a heavy course of lower respirato...

Geographical Differences and Temporal Improvements in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second of Preterm-Born Children

“…The current searches identified 16 856 titles and abstracts; after screening, 685 full articles were identified, and 86 met the inclusion criteria (eFigure 1 in the Supplement). Of these 86 articles, 50 were combined with the 36 studies from the previous systematic review, resulting in 86 included studies representing 7094 preterm-born and 17 700 term-born participants (eTables 4, 5, and 6 in the Supplement). Some studies were included in more than 1 analysis.…”

“…Some studies were included in more than 1 analysis. Eighty-six studies compared all preterm-born participants (including some with BPD) with term controls . Forty-five studies compared a preterm-born group who did not have BPD; 55 compared an all BPD group, 29 with a BPD28 group; and 26 with a BPD36 group …”