Effect of late preterm birth on lung clearance index and respiratory physiology in school-age children.
BACKGROUND
We hypothesized that former late preterm (LP) children have abnormal pulmonary physiology parameters, including uneven ventilation distribution, due to premature disruption of normal lung development.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study evaluating former LP children at the age of 6 to 12 years as compared to term controls. Demographics and child's and family history of asthma/atopy/smoking were recorded. The outcome parameters were spirometry, multiple breath washout (MBW) measurement by lung clearance index (LCI), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), symptoms related to asthma and allergy, and Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine former LP were compared to 30 term-control children (mean age, 8.2 ± 1.7 and 8.8 ± 1.8 years, respectively). LP had reduced forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) compared to term controls (FEV1 1.59 ± 0.48 vs 1.80 ± 0.39 L, P = 0.005 and FVC 1.73 ± 0.45 vs 1.99 ± 0.49 L, P = 0.009). There were no differences between the two groups regarding FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75 (FEF25-75), LCI (7.10 ± 0.79 vs 6.96 ± 0.75, P = 0.50), 6MW distance, and weekly leisure-activity score. Former LP children had more episodes of wheezing and greater use of asthma medication.


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study suggests that LP have lower pulmonary function tests (PFTs) but not ventilation inhomogeneity measured by LCI or functional disturbance. It is unclear if the differences in PFTs are due to late prematurity by itself or are the consequence of maternal and neonatal factors associated with LP. Further larger studies are required to assess the long-term respiratory consequences of LP birth.
['Yaacoby-Bianu|Karin|K|', 'Plonsky|Moran T|MT|', 'Gur|Michal|M|', 'Bar-Yoseph|Ronen|R|0000-0002-0055-5415', 'Kugelman|Amir|A|0000-0002-4538-3098', 'Bentur|Lea|L|0000-0002-5347-1426']
D001249:Asthma D002648:Child D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007231:Infant, Newborn D008168:Lung D008297:Male D010865:Pilot Projects D011247:Pregnancy D047928:Premature Birth D012129:Respiratory Function Tests D012135:Respiratory Sounds
late preterm lung clearance index asthma