PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Agnes Sonnenschein-van der Voort AU - Johan de Jongste AU - Albert Hofman AU - Henriƫtte Moll AU - Eric Steegers AU - Vincent Jaddoe AU - Liesbeth Duijts TI - Fetal and infant growth is associated with wheezing in preschool children. The Generation R study DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - p1501 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1501.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1501.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - Background: Birth size is associated with wheezing in childhood. Not much is known about the role of longitudinal growth in fetal life and infancy on asthma symptoms. Our aim was to examine the associations of fetal and infant growth characteristics with wheezing in preschool children.Methods: This study was embedded in a population-based prospective cohort study among 5,125 children. Information on second and third trimester fetal growth (femur length, head circumference, abdominal circumference, fetal estimated weight) was obtained by multiple ultrasounds during pregnancy. Infant growth (length, weight) was repeatedly measured at the Community Health Centres at the ages of 3, 6, and 12 months. All growth characteristics were converted into age and sex adjusted standard deviation scores (SDS). Parental report of wheezing until the age of 4 years was yearly obtained by questionnaires.Results: Fetal growth characteristics were not associated with wheezing at all ages. Infant weight gain was associated with the risk of wheezing in the first 2 years (Odds ratios (OR) age 1 year: 1.12 (95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 1.04, 1.22); age 2 years: 1.23 (1.12, 1.35)) per SDS weight gain in the first 3 months of life. These effect estimates were higher for children who were fetal growth restricted from the 2nd trimester to birth (age 1 year: 1.32 (1.10, 1.57), age 2 years: 1.26 (1.04, 1.54)).Conclusions: Increased weight gain during the first 3 months after birth is associated with increased risk of wheezing in the first 2 years of life, especially after fetal growth restriction. Our results suggest that abnormal fetal and infant growth might influence the development of asthma in childhood.