TY - JOUR
T1 - Preterm birth, birth weight, infant weight gain and their associations with childhood asthma and spirometry
T2 - a cross-sectional observational study in Nairobi, Kenya
AU - Meme, Helen
AU - Amukoye, Evans
AU - Bowyer, Cressida
AU - Chakaya, Jeremiah
AU - Dobson, Ruaraidh
AU - Fuld, Jonathan
AU - Gray, Cindy M.
AU - Kiplimo, Richard
AU - Lesosky, Maia
AU - Mortimer, Kevin
AU - Ndombi, Amos
AU - Obasi, Angela
AU - Orina, Fred
AU - Quint, Jennifer K.
AU - Semple, Sean
AU - West, Sarah E.
AU - Zurba, Lindsey
AU - Devereux, Graham
N1 - © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023
PY - 2023/9/21
Y1 - 2023/9/21
N2 - BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, the origins of asthma and high prevalence of abnormal lung function remain unclear. In high-income countries (HICs), associations between birth measurements and childhood asthma and lung function highlight the importance of antenatal and early life factors in the aetiology of asthma and abnormal lung function in children. We present here the first study in sub-Saharan Africa to relate birth characteristics to both childhood respiratory symptoms and lung function. METHODS: Children attending schools in two socioeconomically contrasting but geographically close areas of Nairobi, Kenya, were recruited to a cross-sectional study of childhood asthma and lung function. Questionnaires quantified respiratory symptoms and preterm birth; lung function was measured by spirometry; and parents were invited to bring the child's immunisation booklet containing records of birth weight and serial weights in the first year. RESULTS: 2373 children participated, 52% girls, median age (IQR), 10 years (8-13). Spirometry data were available for 1622. Child immunisation booklets were available for 500 and birth weight and infant weight gain data were available for 323 and 494 children, respectively. In multivariable analyses, preterm birth was associated with the childhood symptoms 'wheeze in the last 12 months'; OR 1.64, (95% CI 1.03 to 2.62), p=0.038; and 'trouble breathing' 3.18 (95% CI 2.27 to 4.45), p<0.001. Birth weight (kg) was associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s z-score, regression coefficient (β) 0.30 (0.08, 0.52), p=0.008, FVC z-score 0.29 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.51); p=0.008 and restricted spirometry, OR 0.11 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.78), p=0.027. CONCLUSION: These associations are in keeping with those in HICs and highlight antenatal factors in the aetiology of asthma and lung function abnormalities in sub-Saharan Africa.
AB - BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, the origins of asthma and high prevalence of abnormal lung function remain unclear. In high-income countries (HICs), associations between birth measurements and childhood asthma and lung function highlight the importance of antenatal and early life factors in the aetiology of asthma and abnormal lung function in children. We present here the first study in sub-Saharan Africa to relate birth characteristics to both childhood respiratory symptoms and lung function. METHODS: Children attending schools in two socioeconomically contrasting but geographically close areas of Nairobi, Kenya, were recruited to a cross-sectional study of childhood asthma and lung function. Questionnaires quantified respiratory symptoms and preterm birth; lung function was measured by spirometry; and parents were invited to bring the child's immunisation booklet containing records of birth weight and serial weights in the first year. RESULTS: 2373 children participated, 52% girls, median age (IQR), 10 years (8-13). Spirometry data were available for 1622. Child immunisation booklets were available for 500 and birth weight and infant weight gain data were available for 323 and 494 children, respectively. In multivariable analyses, preterm birth was associated with the childhood symptoms 'wheeze in the last 12 months'; OR 1.64, (95% CI 1.03 to 2.62), p=0.038; and 'trouble breathing' 3.18 (95% CI 2.27 to 4.45), p<0.001. Birth weight (kg) was associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s z-score, regression coefficient (β) 0.30 (0.08, 0.52), p=0.008, FVC z-score 0.29 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.51); p=0.008 and restricted spirometry, OR 0.11 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.78), p=0.027. CONCLUSION: These associations are in keeping with those in HICs and highlight antenatal factors in the aetiology of asthma and lung function abnormalities in sub-Saharan Africa.
KW - asthma
KW - asthma epidemiology
KW - paediatric lung disaese
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85171955617&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bmjresp-2023-001895
DO - 10.1136/bmjresp-2023-001895
M3 - Article
C2 - 37735103
AN - SCOPUS:85171955617
SN - 2052-4439
VL - 10
JO - BMJ Open Respiratory Research
JF - BMJ Open Respiratory Research
IS - 1
M1 - e001895
ER -