Abstract
To investigate the association between rapid weight gain in the first 3 months of life and the prevalence of wheeze in the first years of life and lung function at 5 years of age.
Infants participate in an ongoing birth cohort. Information on growth and respiratory symptoms was collected during the first year of life, and on primary care consultations during total follow-up. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and maximal mid expiratory flow (FEF25–75) were measured at 5 years of age.
Information on growth and respiratory symptoms was obtained for 1431 infants, and 235 children had already 5 years of follow-up. Every z-score increase in weight gain resulted in an increase in days with wheeze by 37% (Incidence Rate Ratio 1.37, 95%CI 1.27–1.47, p<0.001) and in -associated consultations by 16% (1.16, 1.01–1.34, p=0.04). Children with rapid weight gain reported significantly more physicians' diagnosed asthma. FEV1 and FEF25–75 were reduced by 34 mL (−0.034 (−0.056 – −0.013, p=0.002)) and 82 mL (−0.082 (−0.140–−0.024, p=0.006)) per every z-score increase in weight gain. These associations were independent of birth weight.
Rapid early weight gain is a risk factor for clinically relevant wheezing illnesses in the first years of life and lower lung function in childhood.
- ERS