Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Archives of Disease in Childhood logoLink to Archives of Disease in Childhood
. 1991 May;66(5):584–587. doi: 10.1136/adc.66.5.584

Is low birth weight a risk factor for asthma during adolescence?

D S Seidman 1, A Laor 1, R Gale 1, D K Stevenson 1, Y L Danon 1
PMCID: PMC1792927  PMID: 2039246

Abstract

The effect of low birth weight on the incidence of asthma by 17 years of age was investigated by studying medical draft examination records of 20,312 male subjects born in Jerusalem between January 1967 and December 1971. Additional information on birth weight and other demographic factors was abstracted from the Jerusalem Perinatal Study computerised database. A stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios for developing asthma by 17 years of age in 500 g birthweight categories from less than 2000 g to 4500 g. The odds ratios were adjusted for the confounding effects of ethnic origin, social class (determined by area of residence), paternal education, maternal age, and birth order. The group with low birth weights (less than 2500 g, n = 1004) had a significantly increased risk of developing asthma by 17 years of age, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.44 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79 to 2.66) for birthweight group less than 2000 g and 1.49 (95% CI 1.05 to 2.12) for birthweight group 2000-2499 g compared with the reference group of 3000-3499 g. We conclude that infants with birth weights of less than 2500 g may have a higher risk of asthma during childhood and adolescence than infants who were heavier at birth.

Full text

PDF
584

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Andréasson B., Lindroth M., Mortensson W., Svenningsen N. W., Jonson B. Lung function eight years after neonatal ventilation. Arch Dis Child. 1989 Jan;64(1):108–113. doi: 10.1136/adc.64.1.108. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Barker D. J., Osmond C. Childhood respiratory infection and adult chronic bronchitis in England and Wales. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 Nov 15;293(6557):1271–1275. doi: 10.1136/bmj.293.6557.1271. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Barker D. J., Osmond C., Law C. M. The intrauterine and early postnatal origins of cardiovascular disease and chronic bronchitis. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1989 Sep;43(3):237–240. doi: 10.1136/jech.43.3.237. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bertrand J. M., Riley S. P., Popkin J., Coates A. L. The long-term pulmonary sequelae of prematurity: the role of familial airway hyperreactivity and the respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1985 Mar 21;312(12):742–745. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198503213121202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Borkenstein J., Borkenstein M., Rosegger H. Pulmonary function studies in long-term survivors with artificial ventilation in the neonatal period. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1980 Mar;69(2):159–163. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1980.tb07053.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Brooke O. G., Anderson H. R., Bland J. M., Peacock J. L., Stewart C. M. Effects on birth weight of smoking, alcohol, caffeine, socioeconomic factors, and psychosocial stress. BMJ. 1989 Mar 25;298(6676):795–801. doi: 10.1136/bmj.298.6676.795. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Burr M. L. Is asthma increasing? J Epidemiol Community Health. 1987 Sep;41(3):185–189. doi: 10.1136/jech.41.3.185. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Burr M. L., Miskelly F. G., Butland B. K., Merrett T. G., Vaughan-Williams E. Environmental factors and symptoms in infants at high risk of allergy. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1989 Jun;43(2):125–132. doi: 10.1136/jech.43.2.125. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Chan K. N., Elliman A., Bryan E., Silverman M. Clinical significance of airway responsiveness in children of low birthweight. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1989;7(4):251–258. doi: 10.1002/ppul.1950070411. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Chan K. N., Elliman A., Bryan E., Silverman M. Respiratory symptoms in children of low birth weight. Arch Dis Child. 1989 Sep;64(9):1294–1304. doi: 10.1136/adc.64.9.1294. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Chan K. N., Noble-Jamieson C. M., Elliman A., Bryan E. M., Aber V. R., Silverman M. Airway responsiveness in low birthweight children and their mothers. Arch Dis Child. 1988 Aug;63(8):905–910. doi: 10.1136/adc.63.8.905. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Chan K. N., Noble-Jamieson C. M., Elliman A., Bryan E. M., Silverman M. Lung function in children of low birth weight. Arch Dis Child. 1989 Sep;64(9):1284–1293. doi: 10.1136/adc.64.9.1284. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Chan K. N., Wong Y. C., Silverman M. Relationship between infant lung mechanics and childhood lung function in children of very low birthweight. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1990;8(2):74–81. doi: 10.1002/ppul.1950080204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Coates A. L., Bergsteinsson H., Desmond K., Outerbridge E. W., Beaudry P. H. Long-term pulmonary sequelae of premature birth with and without idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome. J Pediatr. 1977 Apr;90(4):611–616. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(77)80382-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Colley J. R., Douglas J. W., Reid D. D. Respiratory disease in young adults: influence of early childhood lower respiratory tract illness, social class, air pollution, and smoking. Br Med J. 1973 Jul 28;3(5873):195–198. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5873.195. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Davies A. M., Prywes R., Tzur B., Weiskopf P., Sterk V. V. The Jerusalem perinatal study. 1. Design and organization of a continuing, community-based, record-linked survey. Isr J Med Sci. 1969 Nov-Dec;5(6):1095–1106. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Davies P. A. Follow up of low birthweight children. Arch Dis Child. 1984 Aug;59(8):794–797. doi: 10.1136/adc.59.8.794. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Dinwiddie R., Mellor D. H., Donaldson H. C., Tunstall M. E., Russell G. Quality of survival after artificial ventilation of the newborn. Arch Dis Child. 1974 Sep;49(9):703–710. doi: 10.1136/adc.49.9.703. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Driscoll D. J., Kleinberg F., Heise C. T., Staats B. A. Cardiorespiratory function in asymptomatic survivors of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Mayo Clin Proc. 1987 Aug;62(8):695–700. doi: 10.1016/s0025-6196(12)65222-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Gurwitz D., Mindorff C., Levison H. Increased incidence of bronchial reactivity in children with a history of bronchiolitis. J Pediatr. 1981 Apr;98(4):551–555. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(81)80758-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Harlap S., Davies A. M., Grover N. B., Prywes R. The Jerusalem perinatal study: the first decade 1964--73. Isr J Med Sci. 1977 Nov;13(11):1073–1091. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Harlap S., Davies A. M. Infant admissions to hospital and maternal smoking. Lancet. 1974 Mar 30;1(7857):529–532. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(74)92714-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Heldt G. P., McIlroy M. B., Hansen T. N., Tooley W. H. Exercise performance of the survivors of hyaline membrane disease. J Pediatr. 1980 Jun;96(6):995–999. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(80)80624-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Hill R., Williams J., Tattersfield A., Britton J. Change in use of asthma as a diagnostic label for wheezing illness in schoolchildren. BMJ. 1989 Oct 7;299(6704):898–898. doi: 10.1136/bmj.299.6704.898. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Holland W. W., Halil T., Bennett A. E., Elliott A. Factors influencing the onset of chronic respiratory disease. Br Med J. 1969 Apr 26;2(5651):205–208. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5651.205. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Kark J. D., Kedem R., Revach M. Medical examination of Israeli 17-year-olds before military service as a national resource for health information. Isr J Med Sci. 1986 Mar-Apr;22(3-4):318–325. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Kleinman J. C., Madans J. H. The effects of maternal smoking, physical stature, and educational attainment on the incidence of low birth weight. Am J Epidemiol. 1985 Jun;121(6):843–855. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114055. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Lee D. A., Winslow N. R., Speight A. N., Hey E. N. Prevalence and spectrum of asthma in childhood. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1983 Apr 16;286(6373):1256–1258. doi: 10.1136/bmj.286.6373.1256. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Lloyd B. W., Wheldall K., Perks D. Controlled study of intelligence and school performance of very low-birthweight children from a defined geographical area. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1988 Feb;30(1):36–42. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1988.tb04724.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Mansell A. L., Driscoll J. M., James L. S. Pulmonary follow-up of moderately low birth weight infants with and without respiratory distress syndrome. J Pediatr. 1987 Jan;110(1):111–115. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(87)80301-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Mok J. Y., Simpson H. Outcome for acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia in infancy. Arch Dis Child. 1984 Apr;59(4):306–309. doi: 10.1136/adc.59.4.306. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Noble-Jamieson C. M., Lukeman D., Silverman M., Davies P. A. Low birth weight children at school age: neurological, psychological, and pulmonary function. Semin Perinatol. 1982 Oct;6(4):266–273. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. O'Connell E. J., Logan G. B. Parental smoking in childhood asthma. Ann Allergy. 1974 Mar;32(3):142–145. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Overpeck M. D., Moss A. J., Hoffman H. J., Hendershot G. E. A comparison of the childhood health status of normal birth weight and low birth weight infants. Public Health Rep. 1989 Jan-Feb;104(1):58–70. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Pullan C. R., Hey E. N. Wheezing, asthma, and pulmonary dysfunction 10 years after infection with respiratory syncytial virus in infancy. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Jun 5;284(6330):1665–1669. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6330.1665. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Riedel F. Long term effects of artificial ventilation in neonates. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1987 Jan;76(1):24–29. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1987.tb10409.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Rubin D. H., Krasilnikoff P. A., Leventhal J. M., Weile B., Berget A. Effect of passive smoking on birth-weight. Lancet. 1986 Aug 23;2(8504):415–417. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)92132-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Smyth J. A., Tabachnik E., Duncan W. J., Reilly B. J., Levison H. Pulmonary function and bronchial hyperreactivity in long-term survivors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Pediatrics. 1981 Sep;68(3):336–340. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Stahlman M., Hedvall G., Lindstrom D., Snell J. Role of hyaline membrane disease in production of later childhood lung abnormalities. Pediatrics. 1982 May;69(5):572–576. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Stein A., Campbell E. A., Day A., McPherson K., Cooper P. J. Social adversity, low birth weight, and preterm delivery. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1987 Aug 1;295(6593):291–293. doi: 10.1136/bmj.295.6593.291. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Strachan D. P. Hay fever, hygiene, and household size. BMJ. 1989 Nov 18;299(6710):1259–1260. doi: 10.1136/bmj.299.6710.1259. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Taylor B., Wadsworth J. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and lower respiratory tract illness in early life. Arch Dis Child. 1987 Aug;62(8):786–791. doi: 10.1136/adc.62.8.786. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Vohr B. R., Bell E. F., Oh W. Infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Growth pattern and neurologic and developmental outcome. Am J Dis Child. 1982 May;136(5):443–447. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1982.03970410061015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Vohr B. R., Garcia Coll C. T. Neurodevelopmental and school performance of very low-birth-weight infants: a seven-year longitudinal study. Pediatrics. 1985 Sep;76(3):345–350. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Weitzman M., Gortmaker S., Walker D. K., Sobol A. Maternal smoking and childhood asthma. Pediatrics. 1990 Apr;85(4):505–511. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Archives of Disease in Childhood are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES