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Abnormal early life lung function is related to wheezing in childhood; however, data on the association with cough are not available. We determined the relationship between early life lung function and wheeze and cough during the first year of life, adjusted for other possible risk factors. Infants were participants of the Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER). Lung function measurements were performed before the age of 2 months. Information on pre- and perinatal factors, general characteristics and anthropometrics were assessed by questionnaires. Follow-up data on respiratory symptoms were assessed by daily questionnaires. 836 infants had valid lung function measurements and complete follow-up data for respiratory symptoms at 1 yr of age. Multivariable Poisson analysis showed that higher values of respiratory resistance ( R rs ) and time constant ( τ rs ) were associated with an increased risk for wheeze and cough during the first year of life. Higher values of respiratory compliance ( C rs ) were associated with a decreased risk for wheeze and cough. R rs , C rs and τ rs measured shortly after birth were independently associated with wheeze and cough during the first year of life. As the strength of the relationships were different for wheeze and cough, they should be used as two separate entities.

Background: Preterm birth, low birth weight, and infant catch-up growth seem associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases in later life, but individual studies showed conflicting results. Objectives: We performed an individual participant data meta-analysis for 147,252 children of 31 birth cohort studies to determine the associations of birth and infant growth characteristics with the risks of preschool wheezing (1-4 years) and school-age asthma (5-10 years). Methods: First, we performed an adjusted 1-stage random-effect meta-analysis to assess the combined associations of gestational age, birth weight, and infant weight gain with childhood asthma. Second, we performed an adjusted 2-stage random-effect meta-analysis to assess the associations of preterm birth (gestational age < 37 weeks) and low birth weight (< 2500 g) with childhood asthma outcomes. Results: Younger gestational age at birth and higher infant weight gain were independently associated with higher risks of preschool wheezing and school-age asthma (P, Supported by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme FP7/20072013, project CHICOS. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Respiratory Society and the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013-Marie Curie Actions under grant agreement RESPIRE, PCOFUND-GA-2008-229571.