Early-life respiratory tract infections and the risk of school-age lower lung function and asthma: A meta-analysis of 150 000 European children
Publication date
2022-10-01
Authors
van Meel, Evelien R
Mensink-Bout, Sara M
den Dekker, Herman T
Ahluwalia, Tarunveer S
Annesi-Maesano, Isabella
Arshad, Syed Hasan
Baïz, Nour
Barros, Henrique
von Berg, Andrea
Bisgaard, Hans
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Article
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Early-life respiratory tract infections might affect chronic obstructive respiratory diseases, but conclusive studies from general populations are lacking. Our objective was to examine if children with early-life respiratory tract infections had increased risks of lower lung function and asthma at school age. METHODS: We used individual participant data of 150 090 children primarily from the EU Child Cohort Network to examine the associations of upper and lower respiratory tract infections from age 6 months to 5 years with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory flow at 75% of FVC (FEF75%) and asthma at a median (range) age of 7 (4-15) years. RESULTS: Children with early-life lower, not upper, respiratory tract infections had a lower school-age FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF75% (z-score range: -0.09 (95% CI -0.14- -0.04) to -0.30 (95% CI -0.36- -0.24)). Children with early-life lower respiratory tract infections had a higher increased risk of school-age asthma than those with upper respiratory tract infections (OR range: 2.10 (95% CI 1.98-2.22) to 6.30 (95% CI 5.64-7.04) and 1.25 (95% CI 1.18-1.32) to 1.55 (95% CI 1.47-1.65), respectively). Adjustment for preceding respiratory tract infections slightly decreased the strength of the effects. Observed associations were similar for those with and without early-life wheezing as a proxy for early-life asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that early-life respiratory tract infections affect development of chronic obstructive respiratory diseases in later life, with the strongest effects for lower respiratory tract infections.
Keywords
Asthma, Child, Preschool, Forced Expiratory Volume, Humans, Infant, Lung, Prospective Studies, Respiratory Tract Infections, Vital Capacity
Citation
van Meel, E R, Mensink-Bout, S M, den Dekker, H T, Ahluwalia, T S, Annesi-Maesano, I, Arshad, S H, Baïz, N, Barros, H, von Berg, A, Bisgaard, H, Bønnelykke, K, Carlsson, C J, Casas, M, Chatzi, L, Chevrier, C, Dalmeijer, G, Dezateux, C, Duchen, K, Eggesbø, M, van der Ent, C, Fantini, M, Flexeder, C, Frey, U, Forastiere, F, Gehring, U, Gori, D, Granell, R, Griffiths, L J, Inskip, H, Jerzynska, J, Karvonen, A M, Keil, T, Kelleher, C, Kogevinas, M, Koppen, G, Kuehni, C E, Lambrechts, N, Lau, S, Lehmann, I, Ludvigsson, J, Magnus, M C, Mélen, E, Mehegan, J, Mommers, M, Nybo Andersen, A-M, Nystad, W, Pedersen, E S L, Pekkanen, J, Peltola, V, Pike, K C, Pinot de Moira, A, Pizzi, C, Polanska, K, Popovic, M, Porta, D, Roberts, G, Santos, A C, Schultz, E S, Standl, M, Sunyer, J, Thijs, C, Toivonen, L, Uphoff, E, Usemann, J, Vafeidi, M, Wright, J, de Jongste, J C, Jaddoe, V W V & Duijts, L 2022, 'Early-life respiratory tract infections and the risk of school-age lower lung function and asthma : A meta-analysis of 150 000 European children', European Respiratory Journal, vol. 60, no. 4, 2102395. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02395-2021