Development of Lung Function in Preterm Infants During the First Two Years of Life.

Introduction: It remains unclear if prematurity itself can influence post delivery lung development and particularly, the bronchial size.

Aim: To assess lung function during the first two years of life in healthy preterm infants and compare the measurements to those obtained in healthy term infants during the same time period.

Methods: This observational longitudinal study assessed lung function in 74 preterm (30+0 to 35+6 weeks' gestational age) and 76 healthy term control infants who were recruited between 2011 and 2013. Measurements of tidal breathing, passive respiratory mechanics, tidal and raised volume forced expirations (V'maxFRC and FEF, respectively) were undertaken following administration of oral chloral hydrate sedation according to ATS/ERS recommendations at 6- and 18-months corrected age.

Results: Lung function measurements were obtained from the preterm infants and full term controls initially at 6 months of age. Preterm infants had lower absolute and adjusted values (for gestational age, postnatal age, sex, body size, and confounding factors) for respiratory compliance and V'maxFRC. At 18 months corrected postnatal age, similar measurements were repeated in 57 preterm infants and 61 term controls. A catch-up in tidal volume, respiratory mechanics parameters, FEV and forced expiratory flows was seen in preterm infants.

Conclusion: When compared with term controls, the lower forced expiratory flows observed in the healthy preterm group at 6 months was no longer evident at 18 months corrected age, suggesting a catch-up growth of airway function.