Lung function in adults born with very low birth weight from young to mid-adulthood.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Young adults born preterm with very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g), especially those who had neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), have reduced lung function compared with their term-born peers. We hypothesized that these impairments worsen between young and mid-adulthood.

Methods

We studied two birth cohorts: HeSVA (Finland) and NTNU LBW Life (Norway) with harmonized protocols. Lung function was assessed by spirometry in 115 VLBW (20 with BPD) and 142 controls at mean 36 years. The results were compared with young adulthood (22 years) spirometry in 198 VLBW (32 with BPD) and 225 control participants.

Results

In mid-adulthood, BPD-VLBW adults had lower z-scores in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (zFEV1; mean difference -1.49; 95%CI -1.94, -1.04) and

SUBMITTER: Jussinniemi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12920113 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature