Abstract
Background: The role of sex and puberty on respiratory outcomes is not fully clear. We aimed to examine if sex and puberty are associated with respiratory outcomes in children.
Method: This study including 3,418 children and their mothers was embedded in a population-based cohort study. Information on sex was obtained at birth. At age 13 ys, low, mid, and high puberty stages (Tanner stage 1-2, 3-4, and 5, respectively) were based on pubic hair, breast(girls only), and genital(boys only) development. Questionnaires provided information on wheezing from birth until age 13ys and current asthma at age 13ys. Lung function was measured by spirometry at age 13ys. All associations were adjusted for height gain between ages 9 and 13ys.
Results: Girls had a consistently lower risk of wheezing from birth until age 13ys (OR(95%CI) range:0.66(0.55,0.80) to 0.12(0.10,0.15)), and tended to have a lower risk of current asthma (0.82(0.61,1.20), compared to boys. Adolescent girls with a high puberty stage of breast development had higher FEV1, FVC and FEF75, compared to those with a low puberty stage (z score difference (95%CI):0.20(0.05,0.35), 0.19(0.04,0.33),and 0.17(0.01,0.34), respectively). Adolescent boys with a high genital puberty stage had a higher FEV1 and FVC(0.20(0.02,0.40)and 0.18(0.01,0.36)). Adolescent girls and boys with a high puberty stage of pubic hair had higher FEV1 and FEF75, and FEV1 and FVC, respectively. Mid puberty stage wasn’t consistently associated with respiratory outcomes.
Conclusion: Girls have a lower risk of wheezing from birth until age 13ys than boys. At school-age, no sex-change in wheezing/asthma prevalence was found during puberty. In addition, girls and boys with a greater puberty maturation had a higher lung function.
Footnotes
Cite this article as Eur Respir J 2022; 60: Suppl. 66, 3384.
This article was presented at the 2022 ERS International Congress, in session “-”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2022