Preterm birth and early growth characteristics are associated with lower lung function in childhood: A meta-analysis of 24,000 European children

Preterm birth, low birth weightand high infant weight gainare associated with increased risks of childhood asthma. An important underlying pathway might be smaller airways and subsequent lower lung function. We examined the association of early growth characteristics with the risk of lower lung function, using data from 24,715 children of 24 European birth cohorts. Studies were eligible if they included children from 1989 onwards, had information on gestational age, birth weightor infant weight gain, and lung function (FEV1, FVC, FEF25-75, FEF75) at age 4-18 years. Random-effect meta-analyses were used with individual participant dataand pooled effect estimates. Younger gestational ageand lower birth weightwere associated with lower lung function values (p-values Younger gestational age, lower weight at birth and higher infant weight gainare associated with lower lung function in childhood. Smaller airways might be partly responsible for associations of early growth characteristics with asthma.