TY - JOUR T1 - Intra-breath measures of respiratory mechanics in healthy African infants detect risk of respiratory illness in early life JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.00998-2018 SP - 1800998 AU - Diane M. Gray AU - Dorottya Czovek AU - Lauren McMillan AU - Lidija Turkovic AU - Jacob A. M. Stadler AU - Anessa Vanker AU - Bence L. Radics AU - Zoltan Gingl AU - Graham L. Hall AU - Peter D. Sly AU - Heather J. Zar AU - Zoltán Hantos Y1 - 2018/01/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2018/11/08/13993003.00998-2018.abstract N2 - Rationale: Lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children. Sensitive and non-invasive infant lung function techniques are needed to measure risk for and impact of LRTI on lung health.Objective: To investigate whether lung function derived from the intra-breath forced oscillation technique (FOT), was able to identify healthy infants at risk of LRTI in the first year.Methods and Measurements: Lung function was measured with the novel intra-breath FOT, in six-week infants in a South African birth cohort (Drakenstein Child Health Study). LRTI during the first year was confirmed by study staff. The association between baseline lung function and LRTI was assessed with logistic regression and odds ratios (ORs) determined using optimal cut-off values.Results: Of the 627 healthy infants with successful lung function testing, 161(24%) had 238 LRTI episodes subsequently during the first year. Volume dependence of respiratory resistance (ΔR) and reactance (ΔX) were associated with LRTI. The predictive value was stronger if LRTI was recurrent (n=50, 31%): OR=2.5, ΔX; required hospitalisation (n=38, 16%): OR=5.4, ΔR; or was associated with wheeze (n=87, 37%): OR=3.9, ΔX.Conclusion: Intra-breath FOT can identify healthy infants at risk of developing LRTI, wheezing or severe illness in the first year of life.FootnotesThis 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. Gray has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Czövek has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Lauren McMillanConflict of interest: Dr. Turkovic has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Stadler has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Vanker reports grants from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1017641), grants from Discovery Foundation, grants from South African Thoracic Society AstraZeneca Respiratory Fellowship, grants from National Research Fund, South Africa, grants from CIDRI Clinical Fellowship, grants from MRC, South Africa, during the conduct of the study.Conflict of interest: Dr. Radics has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Gingl has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Hall has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Sly reports In addition, Dr. Sly has a patent null licensed.Conflict of interest: Dr. Zar reports grants from Gates Foundation, grants from National Research Foundation South Africa, grants from SA Medical Research Council , grants from Wellcome Trust, grants from National Institutes of Health, H3 Africa, during the conduct of the study.Conflict of interest: Dr. Hantos reports In addition, Dr. Hantos has a patent 2005903034 - A METHOD OF DIAGNOSING A RESPIRATORY DISEASE OR DISORDER OR MONITORING TREATMENT OF SAME AND A DEVISE FOR USE THEREIN licensed to Thorasys P/L. ER -