Pulmonary outcome and its correlates in school-aged children born with a gestational age ≤ 32 weeks.

Background: There is limited data regarding factors influencing the respiratory outcome at school age of ex-preterms born since the introduction of antenatal steroids, surfactant replacement together with less aggressive ventilation.

Objectives: To establish the main antenatal, neonatal and early childhood respiratory correlates of respiratory status in school-aged children born at ≤ 32 weeks of gestation.

Methods: Ex-preterm children born at ≤ 32 weeks of gestation between 1997 and 2001 at Bordeaux University Hospital were evaluated at school age, using a respiratory questionnaire and lung function tests (spirometry, plethysmography, exercise challenge test and CO lung diffusing capacity DLCO measurements).