Pulmonary Function in School-Aged Preterm Children with a History of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD): A Single-Center Greek Cohort Study and Comparative Literature Review
Abstract
Introduction: Preterm children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) frequently demonstrate persistent abnormalities in pulmonary function testing. Long-term follow-up clinical data from Greece remain limited. Objective: To evaluate pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and respiratory quality of life in school-aged children (>6 years) with BPD followed at a major Pediatric Pulmonology Center, and to compare our findings with those reported in the international literature. Methods: Thirty children (aged 6–12 years; mean age 8.6 ± 1.9 years) born at 14 days (β = −0.31, p=0.002), postnatal corticosteroid administration (β = −0.28, p=0.01), and exposure to passive smoking (β = −0.25, p=0.02). Comparative literature demonstrates similar pulmonary function deficits (~10–20% lower predicted FEV1), increased airway obstruction, and comparable exercise limitations, supporting the validity of our findings. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of Greek preterm children with BPD exhibit persistent airway obstruction, exercise limitation, and impaired respiratory quality of life during school age. Early identification of neonatal risk factors may facilitate targeted interventions and close follow-up, highlighting the need for structured long-term care.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Tobacco and COPD: presenting the World Health Organization (WHO) Tobacco Knowledge Summary
- Comparative effects of e-cigarette smoking on periodontal status, salivary pH, and cotinine levels
- Association between exposure to environmental pollutants and increased oral health risks, a comprehensive review
- Influence of gestational window on offspring vascular health in rodents with in utero exposure to electronic cigarettes
- Natural products as kinase inhibitors in lung cancer: molecular mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and clinical trials
- Nicotine in electronic cigarettes
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.