Abstract
Previous studies have related early postnatal growth with later lung function but their interpretation is limited by the methods used to assess child's growth. We aimed to assess the association of early childhood growth, measured by body mass index (BMI) trajectories up to 4 years, with lung function at 7 years.
We included 1257 children from the Spanish Infancia y Medio Ambiente population-based birth cohort. Early childhood growth was classified in five categories based on BMI trajectories up to 4 years previously identified using latent class growth analysis. These trajectories differed in birth size (“lower”, “average”, “higher”) and in BMI gain velocity (“slower”, “accelerated”). We related these trajectories with lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC and forced expiratory flow at 25–75% (FEF25–75)) at 7 years, using multivariable mixed regression.
Compared to children with average birth size and slower BMI gain (reference), children with higher birth size and accelerated BMI gain had higher percent predicted FVC (3.3% [95% CI: 1.0; 5.6]) and lower percent predicted FEV1/FVC (−1.5% [−2.9; −0.1]) at 7 years. Similar associations were observed for children with lower birth size and accelerated BMI gain. Children with lower birth size and slower BMI gain had lower percent predicted FVC at 7 years. No association was found for FEF25–75.
Independently of birth size, children with accelerated BMI gain in early childhood had higher lung function at 7 years but showed airflow limitation. Children with lower birth size and slower BMI gain in early childhood had lower lung function at 7 years.
Footnotes
This manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Harrison reports other from GlaxoSmithKline, non-financial support from GlaxoSmithKline, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from GSK, personal fees from Vectura, personal fees from AstraZeneca, outside the submitted work.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Prado Peralta has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Abellan has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Montazeri has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Basterrechea has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Esplugues has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. González-Palacios has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. RODA has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. SANTA-MARINA has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Sunyer has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Vrijheid has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Casas has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: Dr. Garcia-Aymerich reports personal fees from Esteve, personal fees from Chiesi, other from AstraZeneca, outside the submitted work.
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- Received January 24, 2020.
- Accepted July 22, 2020.
- Copyright ©ERS 2020