Abstract
Even in the absence of overt respiratory disease during the neonatal period, reduced lung function has been reported in preterm infants. Meaningful interpretation of such results is, however, dependent on availability of appropriate controls and/or reference equations.
Objectives. To assess the applicability of equipment-specific reference equations in healthy Spanish White fullterm infants, and the impact of preterm delivery on lung function during the first year of life.
Methods. Lung function was measured under chloral sedation in clinically stable and asymptomatic 'healthy' preterm (30-35.8 w) and fullterm babies, using the CareFusionTM Masterscreen BabyBody equipment according to ERS/ATS guidelines. Data were expressed as z-scores to adjust for sex, age and body size (Lum, Ped Pulm 2010; Nguyen, Ped Pulm 2013;).
Results. 79 term and 77 preterm infants were studied at mean (SD) corrected postnatal age of 5.92 (0.8) months (term) and 5.95 (1.01) months (preterm). No differences were found either in tidal breathing parameters or Rrs.
Conclusions. Mean z-scores for term infants were all within 0.3 z-scores of the predicted published norms, suggesting that these equations are appropriate for Spanish infants Compared to term controls, 'healthy' preterm infants had significantly lower V'maxFRC, FEV0.5 and FEF25-75.
- © 2014 ERS
