Lung function and overweight in school aged XXXX after early childhood wheezing.

@entity1 @entity565 @entity1017 @entity28
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recently, @entity28 has been connected with wheezing, @entity565 and reduced lung function. Most previous studies have been cross-sectional. The aim of the present follow-up study was to evaluate the association of preceding or current overweight or @entity28 with lung function at early and late school age after early childhood wheezing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From the 100 @entity1 hospitalized for infection associated wheezing at <24 months of age, 83 attended the control visit at 4.0 years, 82 at 7.2 years and 81 at 12.3 years of age. Flow-volume spirometry was performed in 79 @entity1 at 7.2 years and in 80 @entity1 at 12.3 years of age. The weight status was assessed by calculating body mass index (BMI) at all visits. Age- and gender-specific BMI standard deviation scores (BMI-SDS) of >1.3   SD and >2.0   SD were defined to mean overweight and @entity28 , respectively. RESULTS: Overweight at both 7.2 and 12.3 years of age was associated with decreased FEV1 /FVC (forced expiratory volume in 1   sec/forced vital capacity). Overweight and @entity28 at 7.2 years of age were associated with decreased FEV1 /FVC and MEF50 (maximal expiratory flow at 50% of FVC) at 12.3 years of age. The results were similar by continuous and categorized analyses, being robust to adjustments for viral findings during early childhood wheezing and @entity565 maintenance medication at school age. CONCLUSION: Overweight and @entity28 are significant risk factors for reduced lung function at school age after early childhood wheezing. Thus, early-life wheezers should avoid excessive @entity1017 during childhood. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2011; 46:435-441.    2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
