Birth weight and prematurity with lung function at ~17.5 years: “Children of 1997” birth cohort

Baoting He, Man Ki Kwok, Shiu Lun Au Yeung, Shi Lin Lin, June Yue Yan Leung, Lai Ling Hui, Albert M. Li, Gabriel M. Leung, C. Mary Schooling

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We aimed to determine if prematurity and lower birth weight are associated with poorer lung function in a non-western developed setting with less marked confounding by socioeconomic position. Using multivariable linear regression in Hong Kong’s “Children of 1997” birth cohort, adjusted associations of prematurity and birth weight with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF25–75%) at ~17.5 years were assessed. Associations for birth weight were stronger in boys for FEV1 (boys: 0.31 L, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24 to 0.38, girls: 0.18 L, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.25), FVC (boys: 0.36 L, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.44, girls: 0.22 L, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.28) and FEF25–75% (boys: 0.35 L, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.49, girls: 0.22 L, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.34) adjusted for age, socioeconomic position and infant and maternal characteristics. Similarly adjusted, preterm birth (compared to full-term birth) was associated with lower FEV1/FVC and FEF25–75%. Thus, associations of lower birth weight, especially in boys, and prematurity with poorer lung function at 17.5 years were found. Identifying underlying mechanism might contribute to the improvement of pulmonary health and the prevention of adult respiratory illness.

Original languageEnglish
Article number341
JournalScientific Reports
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2020
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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