Respiratory morbidity, atopy and asthma at school age in preterm infants aged 32-35weeks

Little is known about respiratory morbidity and asthma risk in preterm infants (PTIs) with a gestational age (GA) over 32weeks. This was a prospective study carried out from birth to 7-8years, comparing two groups: (a) PTIs (GAs 32weeks + 1day to 35weeks + 0days, without comorbidities) and (b) full-term infants (FTIs; GA 37weeks). Risk and protective factors for bronchiolitis and asthma were identified. A total of 232 children (116/group) were included. Sixty-six (56.9%) PTIs and 43 (37.1%) FTIs presented bronchiolitis (p=0.002). Recurrent wheezing was 52 (44.8%) on PTIs versus 36 (31.0%) on FTIs (p=0.03). Asthma at school aged was 27 (23.3%) on PTIs and 8 (6.9%) on FTIs (p=0.020). Asthma risk factors were only detected in group A.Conclusion: PTIs had a higher prevalence of bronchiolitis, recurrent wheezing and asthma; risk factors for asthma are the following: older siblings, allergic father, atopic dermatitis and antibiotic treatment in the first 3years of life and prematurity itself, which also acted as protective factor for atopic dermatitis.