Lung function measured by the oscillometric method in prematurely born children with chronic lung disease

Premature birth is related to a chronic respiratory morbidity, which may pe rsist until school-age. In these children, the forced oscillation technique would be suitable for evaluation of lung function even at preschool age, s ince it requires only minimal patient cooperation. In order to investigate the oscillometric findings related to premature bir th, using the oscillation technique and conventional lung function methods 49 school-aged children born prematurely with (n=15) or without (n=34) chro nic lung disease (CLD), and 18 healthy children born at full term mere stud ied. Children with CLD had higher respiratory resistance (Rrs,5) and lower react ance (Xrs,5) than prematurely born children without CLD or healthy controls . Both Rrs,5 (r=-0.55, p<0.0001) and Xrs,5 (r=0.76, p<0.0001) were signific antly associated with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the ag reement with spirometry being better in Xrs,5 than in Xrs,5 (p=0.02). Rrs,5 was significantly related to airway resistance (Raw) measured by body plet hysmography (r=0.63, p<0.0001), but underestimated resistance at high value s of Raw. There was no significant relationship between the pulmonary diffu sing capacity and the oscillometric findings. Compared to conventional methods, the oscillometric method yields concordan t information on the severity of lung function deficit in children born pre maturely, with or without chronic lung disease, In these children, the osci llometric findings are probably due to peripheral or more widespread airway obstruction. As conventional methods are not usually suitable for preschoo l children, oscillometry may serve as an alternative for early evaluation o f chronic lung disease among children with premature birth in clinical or r esearch settings.