PASSIVE SMOKING AND RESPIRATORY-FUNCTION IN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT CHILDREN

Aim: To determine if an adverse relationship exists between passive sm oking and respiratory function in very low birthweight (VLBW) children at 11 years of age. Setting: The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne. P atients: 154 consecutive surviving children of less than 1501 g birthw eight born during the 18 months from 1 October 1980. Methods: Respirat ory function of 120 of the 154 children (77.9%) at 11 years of age was measured. Exposure to passive smoking was established by history; no children were known to be actively smoking. The relationships between various respiratory function variables and the estimated number of cig arettes smoked by household members per day were analysed by linear re gression. Results: Most respiratory function variables reflecting airf low were significantly diminished with increasing exposure to passive smoking. In addition, variables indicative of air-trapping rose signif icantly with increasing exposure to passive smoking. Conclusions: Pass ive smoking is associated with adverse respiratory function in survivi ng VLBW children at 11 years of age. Continued exposure to passive smo king, or active smoking, beyond 11 years may lead to further deteriora tion in respiratory function in these children.