To the Editor:
Impaired lung function, and consequent respiratory morbidity including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, may have their origins in early life [1–3]. Genome-wide analysis studies (GWAS) have identified a number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in those of European ancestry that affect adult lung function, as measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio. 23 of these SNPs have directionally consistent effects on both FEV1 and FEV1/FVC in children and adults [4].
During 1998–2002, the Southampton Women’s Survey recruited 12,579 females pre-conception through their general practitioners [5]. By the end of 2003, there had been 1,973 babies born to these females, of which 147 had infant lung function measured between 5 and 14 weeks of age, according to previously published protocols [6] …