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. 2016 Nov-Dec;44(6):489-496.
doi: 10.1016/j.aller.2016.04.008. Epub 2016 Oct 15.

Repercussions of preterm birth on symptoms of asthma, allergic diseases and pulmonary function, 6-14 years later

C Gonçalves  1 , G Wandalsen  2 , F Lanza  2 , A L Goulart  1 , D Solé  2 , A Dos Santos  3
Affiliations

Repercussions of preterm birth on symptoms of asthma, allergic diseases and pulmonary function, 6-14 years later

C Gonçalves et al. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2016 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Background: Prevalence of allergic diseases and impaired pulmonary function may be high in children born prematurely. This study aimed to assess pulmonary function and prevalence of asthma, atopic diseases and allergic sensitisation in these patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with children aged 6-14 years who were born prematurely with birth weight <2000g from January 2008 to May 2011. Exclusion criteria were: major malformations, or acute respiratory disorders. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was applied followed by allergic skin prick test and spirometry.

Results: The study included 84 children aged 9.3±2.3 years born at mean gestational age of 31.8±2.4 weeks. The prevalence of current asthma was 25%, more severe asthma was 15.5%; rhinitis was 38.1%; flexural eczema was 8.3%; and a positive skin-prick test was 69.6%. Frequencies of children with values <80% of predicted were: FVC (8.3%), FEV1 (22.6%), and FEV1/FVC ratio (16.7%). Prevalence of children with FEF25-75% <70% of the predicted value was 32.4%, positive bronchodilator response was observed in 20.5% of cases, and altered pulmonary function in 42.9%. Factors associated with altered pulmonary function were oxygen dependency at 28 days of life (OR: 4.213, p=0.021), the presence of wheezing in childhood (OR: 5.979, p=0.014) and infant's height (OR: 0.945, p=0.005).

Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of severe asthma, allergic sensitisation, and altered pulmonary function among children and adolescents born prematurely. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and a history of wheezing were risk factors for altered pulmonary function.

Keywords: Asthma; Atopic hypersensitivity; Child; Premature; Pulmonary function; Spirometry.

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