Fig 1. Meta-analyses across European regions: selected early life factors and FEV₁ decline.

ΔFEV1/yr. corresponds to change in FEV1 (ml) per year of follow-up—a negative coefficient implies more rapid FEV1 decline and a positive coefficient implies less rapid decline Meta-Analyses by European region, mutually adjusted for all other early life factors investigated and for sex, mid age, mid age square, mid BMI, change in BMI (between survey 1 and 2), height, lifetime pack years smoked, age at highest education, study area (random effect).