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Background: Children born preterm or with a small size for gestational age are at increased risk for childhood asthma., Objective: We sought to assess the hypothesis that these associations are explained by reduced airway patency., Methods: We used individual participant data of 24,938 children from 24 birth cohorts to examine and meta-analyze the associations of gestational age, size for gestational age, and infant weight gain with childhood lung function and asthma (age range, 3.9-19.1 years). Second, we explored whether these lung function outcomes mediated the associations of early growth characteristics with childhood asthma., Results: Children born with a younger gestational age had a lower FEV1, FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio, and forced expiratory volume after exhaling 75% of vital capacity (FEF75), whereas those born with a smaller size for gestational age at birth had a lower FEV1 but higher FEV1/FVC ratio (P < .05). Greater infant weight gain was associated with higher FEV1 but lower FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF75 in childhood (P < .05). All associations were present across the full range and independent of other early-life growth characteristics. Preterm birth, low birth weight, and greater infant weight gain were associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma (pooled odds ratio, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.15-1.57], 1.32 [95% CI, 1.07-1.62], and 1.27 [95% CI, 1.21-1.34], respectively). Mediation analyses suggested that FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, and FEF75 might explain 7% (95% CI, 2% to 10%) to 45% (95% CI, 15% to 81%) of the associations between early growth characteristics and asthma., Conclusions: Younger gestational age, smaller size for gestational age, and greater infant weight gain were across the full ranges associated with childhood lung function. These associations explain the risk of childhood asthma to a substantial extent., (Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Several studies have shown that raised cardiovascular risk factors are associated with an impaired lung function in adulthood. Whether this association also exists in the young is unknown. Our aim was to study the relation between blood pressure and lung function from neonatal to elderly age., Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study in a general population cohort., Methods: Within the Utrecht Health Project (UHP) 6673 adults (aged 18-91 years) had spirometry and blood pressure measurements taken. In the WHeezing Illnesses STudy LEidsche Rijn (WHISTLER) study, a satellite birth cohort of the UHP, blood pressure and respiratory mechanics were measured using the single occlusion technique in 755 newborns and spirometry in 382 5-year-old participants. Linear regression analyses were performed with lung function as an independent variable and blood pressure as a dependent variable in different age groups. The analyses were adjusted for age, sex, weight and height., Results: In infancy a more favorable lung function (higher compliance and lower resistance) was associated with higher blood pressure. In 5-year-old children and young adults higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was associated with higher systolic blood pressure (p-values < 0.05). At the age of 5 the adjusted regression coefficient for systolic blood pressure was 4.8 mmHg/L (95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.3-9.98). The association decreased with increasing age and reversed in the age groups above 40 years to -7.3 mmHg/L (95% CI -15.5-0.9) in those aged over 70 years of age. The association with pulse pressure showed a similar pattern., Conclusions: A positive association between the mechanical properties of the respiratory system and blood pressure in childhood and young adulthood reverses in later adulthood., (© The European Society of Cardiology 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.)

Studies of reduced neonatal lung function and wheezing illnesses during childhood show conflicting results. The aim of our study was to assess the association between resistance (Rrs) and compliance (Crs) of the respiratory system by using the single occlusion technique (SOT) and prospectively collected wheezing illnesses during the first 5 years of life in a large birth cohort. SOT was performed during natural sleep before the age of 2 months. Information about wheezing illnesses was collected from the electronic patient file. 549 infants had a successful SOT measurement and complete medical records. Every kPa·L(-1)·s(-1) increase in Rrs was associated with 10% more consultations in the first 3 years of life. Every 10 mL·kPa(-1) increase in Crs was associated with a 14% reduction in consultations in the first 3 years of life, 27% in the fourth to fifth years of life, and a lower probability of having asthma at the age of 5 years (OR 0.66). Children with late-onset or persistent wheezing had significant lower Crs values than their peers. An increased neonatal resistance is associated with more wheezing illnesses during infancy, while a reduced neonatal compliance is associated with more wheezing illnesses during the first 5 years of life, a late-onset or persistent wheezing phenotype, and asthma.

Background: Exposure to endotoxin and allergens in house dust has been found to be associated with childhood wheeze and asthma. Neonatal lung function is rarely examined in relation to this exposure., Objectives: To assess the association between exposure to endotoxin, house dust mite and cat allergens and neonatal lung function, and respiratory symptoms and eczema in infancy., Methods: In the Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER) birth cohort study, levels of endotoxin, house dust mite allergens, and cat allergen have been measured in dust samples collected in the child's home. Lung function was measured before age 2 months, and respiratory symptoms and eczema were recorded in a daily diary during the first year of life. Associations of lung function (N = 302), respiratory symptoms (N = 361), and eczema (N = 342) with endotoxin and allergen levels have been studied by means of linear and logistic regression, respectively., Results: Mattress dust endotoxin was associated with a significant increase in neonatal respiratory compliance [adjusted mean difference (95% confidence interval) 2.31 (0.33; 4.29) ml/kPa per interquartile range increase in exposure] and a non-significant decrease in neonatal airway resistance [0.32 (-0.77; 0.14) kPa/l/s]. There were no associations between allergen exposure and neonatal lung function and respiratory symptoms., Conclusions: Environmental exposure to endotoxin may have an important role in the development of lung function., (© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

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.