Klin Padiatr 2022; 234(05): 330-331
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1754476
Abstracts
Poster
Poster Walk 2: Lungenfunktion, Infektiologie und Tuberkulose

Impaired lung function in preterm-born adolescents of the post-surfactant era

Y Salem
1   Bern University Hospital, Division of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Bern, Switzerland
,
CC Willers
1   Bern University Hospital, Division of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Bern, Switzerland
,
A-C Kentgens
1   Bern University Hospital, Division of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Bern, Switzerland
,
J Jakob
1   Bern University Hospital, Division of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Bern, Switzerland
,
E Stranzinger
2   Bern University Hospital, Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Bern, Switzerland
,
B Brabandt
2   Bern University Hospital, Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Bern, Switzerland
,
A Peters
2   Bern University Hospital, Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Bern, Switzerland
,
LI Loebelenz
2   Bern University Hospital, Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Bern, Switzerland
,
G Bauman
3   University of Basel Hospital, Division of Radiological Physics, Department of Radiology, Basel, Switzerland
,
P Latzin
1   Bern University Hospital, Division of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Bern, Switzerland
,
S Yammine
1   Bern University Hospital, Division of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Bern, Switzerland
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Introduction After 1990, perinatal management of preterm-born children has significantly changed. As premature survivors born after 1990 are just reaching adulthood by now, data on long-term respiratory consequences of prematurity in the so-called post-surfactant era is scarce. We aimed to assess differences in lung function and structure in preterm-born adolescents of the post-surfactant era compared to matched term-born controls.

Methods Participants performed spirometry, multiple-breath washout (MBW), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We compared forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, functional residual capacity (FRC), lung clearance index (LCI), and scoring from structural MRI (range 0-48) between preterm- and term-born adolescents by t-test and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results We included 69 preterm-born adolescents (47 (68%) of them with bronchopulmonary dysplasia) with a mean (SD) gestational age of 29.0 (2.9) weeks and 70 term-born controls. Mean (SD) study age was 17 (1) years, 53% were male. Mean (SD) FEV1 z-score was significantly lower in preterm-born adolescents: -0.90 (1.10) vs. -0.32 (0.86) in controls (mean difference (95% CI) -0.58 (-0.91 ; -0.25), P=0.001), as was FEV1/FVC z-score with -1.04 (1.08) vs. -0.32 (1.03) (mean difference (95% CI) -0.71 (-1.07 ; -0.36), P<0.001). LCI as a marker of ventilation inhomogeneity was higher in the preterm- compared to the term-born group, but within normal range, while FRC was similar in both groups. Preterm-born adolescents showed mild structural abnormalities in MRI (median score 0 in both groups, range 0-4 vs. 0-1 in controls, P=0.002).

Conclusion While we found lung function impairment in preterm-born adolescents of the post-surfactant era compared to term-born controls, we observed only mild structural abnormalities. Our findings suggest that functional impairment of the preterm lung may be observed even without relevant structural changes.



Publication History

Article published online:
21 September 2022

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