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Cited by 163Birth, Development, and HealthAsthma and respiratory diseasesChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research

Birth weight, childhood lower respiratory tract infection, and adult lung function

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Shaheen, S O, Sterne, J A C, Tucker, J S, Florey, C d. V·1998·Thorax
DOI 10.1136/thx.53.7.549PMC PMC1745265
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Historical cohort studies in England have found that impaired fetal growth and lower respiratory tract infections in early childhood are associated with lower levels of lung function in late adult life. These relations are investigated in a similar study in Scotland. METHODS: In 1985-86 a follow up study was carried out of 1070 children who had been born in St Andrew's from 1921 to 1935 and followed from birth to 14 years of age by the Mackenzie Institute for Medical Research. Recorded information included birth weight and respiratory illnesses. The lung function of 239 of these individuals was measured. RESULTS: There was no association between birth weight and lung function. Pneumonia before two years of age was associated with a difference in mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of -0.39 litres (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.67, -0.11; p = 0.007) and in mean forced vital capacity (FVC) of -0.60 litres (95% CI -0.92, -0.28; p < 0.001), after controlling for age, sex, height, smoking, type of spirometer, and other illnesses before two years. Similar reductions were seen in men and women. Bronchitis before two years was associated with smaller deficits in FEV1 and FVC. Asthma or wheeze at two years and older and cough after five years were also associated with a reduction in FEV1. CONCLUSIONS: The relation between impaired fetal growth and lower lung function in late adult life seen in previous studies was not confirmed in this cohort. The deficits in FEV1 and FVC associated with pneumonia and bronchitis in the first two years of life are consistent with a causal relation.

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  • Large population-based studies from the early 1990s showed a 6-7% increased risk of reduced lung capacity after childhood pneumonia.

    “These findings are consistent with large population-based studies of children in the early 1990s,46, 47, 48 which showed a 6–7% increased risk of reduced lung capacity after childhood pneumonia.”

    From Global burden of childhood pneumonia and diarrhoea (2013) · cites this paper as [48]

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Samet JM, Tager IB, Speizer FE. The relationship between respiratory illness in childhood and chronic airflow obstruc- tion in adulthood. Am Rev Respir Dis 1983;127:508-23.
  2. Hughes DM, Newton-John H, Chay OM, et al. Lung func- tion after pertussis. Aust Paediatr J 1987;23:277-82.

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Authors
Shaheen, S. O., Sterne, J. A. C., Tucker, J. S., & Florey, C. D. V.
Affiliations
University of Dundee (GB)
Corresponding author
Shaheen, S O
ORCID
Venue
Thorax
Publisher
BMJ
Published
1998-07-01
Volume
53
Issue
7
Pages
549-553
ISSN
0040-6376 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1136/thx.53.7.549
PMC
PMC1745265
OpenAlex
W1975409057
Cited by
163
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 9
FWCI
3.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Thorax (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
Keywords
birth weight, lung function, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, wheezing, FEV1, forced vital capacity, adult lung function, retrospective cohort
MeSH terms
Adult, Asthma, Birth Weight, Bronchitis, Female, Forced Expiratory Volume, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Lung, Male, Pneumonia, Respiratory Sounds, Vital Capacity, Cohort Studies

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