Analysis of maximal expiratory flow-volume curves in adult survivors of preterm birth.

Analysis of maximal expiratory flow-volume curves in adult survivors of preterm birth. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019 Aug 21;: Authors: Molgat-Seon Y, Dominelli PB, Peters CM, Guenette JA, Sheel AW, Gladstone IM, Lovering AT, Duke JW Abstract Adult survivors of very preterm (≤32 weeks gestational age)birth without (PRE) and with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) have variable degrees of airflow obstruction at rest. Assessment of the shape of the maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve in PRE and BPD may provide information concerning their unique pattern of airflow obstruction. The purposes of the present study were to: i) quantitatively assess the shape of the MEFV curve in PRE, BPD, and healthy adults born at full-term (CON), ii) identify where along the MEFV curve differences in shape existed between groups, and iii) determine the association between an index of MEFV curve shape and characteristics of preterm birth (i.e., gestational age, mass at birth, duration of oxygen therapy) in PRE and BPD. To do so, we calculated the average slope-ratio (SR) throughout the effort-independent portion of the MEFV curve and at increments of 5% of forced vital capacity (FVC) between 20 and 80% of FVC in PRE (n=19), BPD (n=25), and CON (n=20). We found that average SR was significantly higher in PRE (1.34±0.35) and BPD (1.33±0.45) compared to CON (1.03±0.22; both p<0.05), but similar between PRE and BPD (p=0.99). Differe...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol Source Type: research