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Lung function and exhaled nitric oxide in healthy unsedated A frican infants
Author(s) -
Gray Diane,
Willemse Lauren,
Visagie Ane,
Smith Emilee,
Czövek Dorottya,
Sly Peter D,
Hantos Zoltán,
Hall Graham L,
Zar Heather J
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/resp.12579
Subject(s) - medicine , exhaled nitric oxide , population , cohort , respiratory distress , respiratory system , pediatrics , lung function , lung , anesthesia , environmental health
Background and objective Population‐appropriate lung function reference data are essential to accurately identify respiratory disease and measure response to interventions. There are currently no reference data in A frican infants. The aim was to describe normal lung function in healthy A frican infants. Methods Lung function was performed on healthy S outh A frican infants enrolled in a birth cohort study, the Drakenstein child health study. Infants were excluded if they were born preterm or had a history of neonatal respiratory distress or prior respiratory tract infection. Measurements, made during natural sleep, included the forced oscillation technique, tidal breathing, exhaled nitric oxide and multiple breath washout measures. Results Three hundred sixty‐three infants were tested. Acceptable and repeatable measurements were obtained in 356 (98%) and 352 (97%) infants for tidal breathing analysis and exhaled nitric oxide outcomes, 345 (95%) infants for multiple breath washout and 293 of the 333 (88%) infants for the forced oscillation technique. Age, sex and weight‐for‐age z score were significantly associated with lung function measures. Conclusions This study provides reference data for unsedated infant lung function in A frican infants and highlights the importance of using population‐specific data.