Lung function trajectories from pre-school age to adulthood and their associations with early life factors: a retrospective analysis of three population-based birth cohort studies

Publication date: July 2018Source: The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Volume 6, Issue 7Author(s): Danielle C M Belgrave, Raquel Granell, Steve W Turner, John A Curtin, Iain E Buchan, Peter N Le Souëf, Angela Simpson, A John Henderson, Adnan CustovicSummaryBackgroundMaximal lung function in early adulthood is an important determinant of mortality and COPD. We investigated whether distinct trajectories of lung function are present during childhood and whether these extend to adulthood and infancy.MethodsTo ascertain trajectories of FEV1, we studied two population-based birth cohorts (MAAS and ALSPAC) with repeat spirometry from childhood into early adulthood (1046 participants from 5–16 years and 1390 participants from 8–24 years). We used a third cohort (PIAF) with repeat lung function measures in infancy (V'maxFRC) and childhood (FEV1; 196 participants from 1 month to 18 years of age) to investigate whether these childhood trajectories extend from early life. We identified trajectories using latent profile modelling. We created an allele score to investigate genetic associations of trajectories, and constructed a multivariable model to identify their early-life predictors.FindingsWe identified four childhood FEV1 trajectories: persistently high, normal, below average, and persistently low. The persistently low trajectory (129 [5%] of 2436 participants) was associated with persistent wheezing and asthma throughout follow-up. In genetic analysis, compared with the normal tra...
Source: The Lancet Respiratory Medicine - Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research