RESPIRATORY OUTCOMES OF “NEW” BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA IN
ADOLESCENTS: A MULTICENTER STUDY
Abstract
Objective Long-term respiratory consequences of bronchopulmonary
dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants born in the post-surfactant era
(“new” BPD) remain partially unknown. The present study aimed to
evaluate respiratory outcomes of “new” BPD in adolescents who were
born preterm. Methods This multicenter, cross-sectional study included
286 adolescents born between 2003 and 2005 (mean age: 14.2 years); among
them, 184 and 102 were born extremely preterm (EP) (< 28
weeks’ gestation) and moderate-late preterm (32 to < 37 weeks’
gestation), respectively. Among EP adolescents, 92 had BPD, and 92 did
not. All participants underwent lung function tests, skin prick testing,
and questionnaires on asthma symptoms and quality of life. Results EP
adolescents with BPD had significantly lower forced expiratory volume in
1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, and forced
expiratory flow between 25%–75% of FVC than other included
adolescents. FEV1/FVC ratios were below the lower limit of normal
(z-score < −1.645) in 30.4% of EP adolescents with BPD,
13.0% of EP adolescents without BPD, and 11.8% of adolescents who were
born moderate-late preterm. Bronchodilator response and air-trapping
were significantly higher in BPD adolescents than in other adolescents.
Diffusion capacity was significantly lower in EP adolescents than in
moderate-late preterm adolescents. Asthma symptoms and quality of life
scores were similar among groups. Conclusion EP adolescents with “new”
BPD had poorer pulmonary function than EP adolescents without BPD or
moderate-late preterm adolescents. Further studies are needed to
determine whether “new” BPD is associated with early-onset chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease in adulthood.