Infant spirometry at three months after birth in term and preterm infants

Background: Ex-preterm infants have more airway symptoms in childhood, and forced expiratory flows have been shown to remain low or even diminishing during the first two years after birth in moderately preterm compared to term infants. Questions:Is airway function impaired both in very and moderately ex-preterm babies? Do viral infections affect preterms more severely during the first year? Methods: 110 term and 150 preterms, born at 27+0 – 33+6 weeks gestation, were examined with infant spirometry during tidal breathing at term and with raised volume forced expiration in Jaegher Baby box at three months after birth. Nasopharyngeal viral swabs were taken during all URI and LRI during the first year. New spirometry will be performed at 18 months after birth, corrected for prematurity. Results: Babies born at 27-31 weeks gestation had lower FVC, FEV 0,4 and FEV 0,5 compared to term infants of the same gender (p Conclusions: Very preterm (GA