J. Stocks et al., A COMPARISON OF RESPIRATORY-FUNCTION IN AFRO-CARIBBEAN AND CAUCASIAN INFANTS, The European respiratory journal, 7(1), 1994, pp. 11-16
Race is recognized as an important determinant of lung function in chi
ldren and adults, but limited data exist for infants. Accurate interpr
etation of lung function tests during the neonatal period may depend o
n appropriate values for predicting normality. The aim of this study w
as to compare tidal breathing parameters, Hering-Breuer reflex (HBR) a
ctivity, and total respiratory compliance (Crs) in healthy newborn cau
casian (white) and Afro-Caribbean (black) infants, to determine whethe
r separate reference values were required for these two ethnic groups.
Respiratory function was measured in 33 healthy black infants, 18 of
whom were premature, and 33 healthy white infants matched for sex, ges
tational age, weight, postnatal age, and maternal smoking during pregn
ancy. There were no significant paired differences between black and w
hite infants with respect to minute ventilation, respiratory frequency
, the ratio of time to reach peak expiratory flow to total expiratory
time, or HBR activity. Values of Crs were similar in black and white f
ull-term infants (37.5(SD 9.0) versus 35.0(6.3) ml.kPa(-1), respective
ly) suggesting that, in the immediate newborn period, separate referen
ce values are not necessary for these parameters. However, Crs was som
ewhat lower in black than white preterm infants (26.0(5.2) versus 29.5
(7.2) ml.kPa(-1), this difference reaching statistical significance if
results were expressed in relation to body weight (95% confidence int
erval of within-pair differences -4.0 to -0.02 ml.kPa(-1).kg(-1); p<0.
05). We conclude that no separate reference values for tidal breathing
, Hering-Breuer reflex activity or total respiratory compliance are re
quired for white and black babies in the immediate newborn period. Fur
ther studies are required to investigate sequential changes of Crs in
preterm infants and to determine the potential influence of race on th
e chest wall.