Birth weight < 1501 g and respiratory health at age 14

Aims-To determine the respiratory health in adolescence of children of birt h weight <1501 g, and to compare the results with normal birthweight contro ls. Methods-Prospective cohort study of children born in the Royal Women's Hosp ital, Melbourne. Two cohorts of preterm children (86 consecutive survivors 500-999 g birth weight, and 124 consecutive survivors 1000-1500 g birth wei ght) and a control group of 60 randomly selected children >2499 g birth wei ght were studied. Children were assessed at 14 years of age. A paediatricia n determined the clinical respiratory status. Lung function was measured ac cording to standard guidelines. Results-Of 180 preterm children seen at age 14, 42 (23%) had bronchopulmona ry dysplasia (BPD) in the newborn period. Readmission to hospital for respi ratory ill health was infrequent in all groups and the rates of asthma were similar (15% in the 500-999 g birth weight group, 21% in the 1000-1500 g b irth weight group, 21% in controls; 19% BPD, 18% no BPD). Overall, lung fun ction was mostly within the normal range for all cohorts; few children had lung function abnormalities in clinically significant ranges. However, the preterm children had significantly lower values for variables reflecting fl ow. Lung function in children of 500-999 g birth weight was similar to chil dren of 1000-1500 g birth weight. Preterm children with BPD had significant ly lower values for variables reflecting flow than children without BPD. Conclusions-The respiratory health of children of birth weight <1501 g at 1 4 years of age is comparable to that of term controls.