Early life lung function and respiratory outcome in the first year of life.

Abnormal early life lung function is related to wheezing in childhood; however, data on the association with cough are not available. We determined the relationship between early life lung function and wheeze and cough during the first year of life, adjusted for other possible risk factors. Infants were participants of the Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER).

Respiratory pathogens in respiratory tract illnesses during the first year of life: a birth cohort study.

Background: Respiratory virus infections are the most important trigger of respiratory illnesses in childhood. Data on the occurrence and the clinical impact of respiratory pathogens in the general population of infants are scarce. Therefore, we described the occurrence and clinical impact of respiratory pathogens in infants with respiratory tract infections during the first year of life.

Respiratory symptoms in young infancy: child, parent and physician related determinants of drug prescription in primary care.

Purpose: Respiratory symptoms account for the majority of drug prescriptions in the first year of life. We investigated the influence of child, parent and physician factors on drug prescriptions for respiratory symptoms in primary care in infancy.

Methods: Infants participated in the WHeezing Illnesses STudy LEidsche Rijn (WHISTLER), a prospective birth cohort on respiratory illnesses.

The influence of maternal respiratory infections during pregnancy on infant lung function.

Introduction: We studied whether maternal respiratory infections during pregnancy adversely influence lung growth and development of the offspring, resulting in poor early life lung function.

Methods: Infants were participants of the Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER). Lung function measurements (single occlusion technique) were performed during natural sleep.

Determinants of health care utilization for respiratory symptoms in the first year of life.

Objective: Health care utilization for respiratory symptoms is very common in infancy. Little is known about the determinants of visiting a physician for such complaints in infants. We investigated which factors determine the likelihood of visiting a physician for respiratory symptoms in the first year of life of their offspring.

Tobacco smoke exposure of pregnant mothers and blood pressure in their newborns: results from the wheezing illnesses study Leidsche Rijn birth cohort.

There is evidence to suggest that exposure of pregnant women to tobacco smoke is related to higher childhood blood pressure in their offspring. It is not well known whether this association is set in utero or by shared postnatal environments. The objective of this study was to assess the association between tobacco smoke exposure of pregnant mothers and blood pressure and heart rate of their newborns.

Feasibility and variability of neonatal and infant lung function measurement using the single occlusion technique.

Introduction: For possible use as a predictor of wheezing illnesses in routine care, we evaluated the feasibility and variability of measurement of passive respiratory mechanics in a large, open population of healthy neonates and infants.

Methods: As part of the ongoing Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn, respiratory compliance (Crs), respiratory resistance (Rrs), and time constant (taurs) were measured during natural sleep in 450 healthy term neonates and infants using the single-occlusion technique (SOT). Interobserver and intraobserver variability of data sampling and the subsequent selection and analysis of occlusions as well as intra-measurement variability were examined.