Respiratory morbidity in 9-10-year-old children born moderate-late preterm

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Although children born moderate-late preterm (MLP; 32-36 weeks’ gestation) have worse expiratory airflow compared with term-born peers, it is unclear if those born MLP also experience a greater burden of respiratory morbidity. <bold>Aim:</bold> To assess differences in the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema symptoms between children born MLP and at term. <bold>Methods:</bold> Prospective cohort of children born MLP or at term at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Victoria, Australia. Participants completed the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Risk ratios and risk differences between those born MLP and at term were estimated using generalised linear models, adjusted for social risk status. <bold>Results:</bold> 158 children born MLP and 124 children born at term were assessed at age 9-10 years. Table 1 details differences in risk between the two groups. Table 1. Risk ratios and differences <table-wrap><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA4098/T1</object-id><object-id>T1</object-id><object-id>t1</object-id><table><colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td><bold>Outcome</bold></td><td> <bold>Risk Ratio</bold> <bold>(95% CI)</bold> </td><td> <bold>Risk Difference (%)</bold> <bold>(95% CI)</bold> </td></tr><tr><td>Wheeze ever</td><td>2.4 (1.6, 3.7)</td><td>24.1 (13.9, 34.3)</td></tr><tr><td>Wheeze in the last 12 months</td><td>3.0 (1.4, 6.3)</td><td>11.7 (4.3, 19.2)</td></tr><tr><td>Wheeze during exercise in the last 12 months</td><td>4.8 (1.7, 13.4)</td><td>11.5 (5.2, 17.9)</td></tr><tr><td>Asthma ever</td><td>2.2 (1.4, 3.4)</td><td>18.1 (8.3, 27.9)</td></tr><tr><td>Nasal problems ever</td><td>1.8 (1.2, 2.7)</td><td>15.3 (4.9, 25.7)</td></tr><tr><td>Eczema ever</td><td>0.8 (0.6, 1.2)</td><td>−6.2 (−0.2, 0.5)</td></tr><tr><td>Hay fever ever</td><td>1.0 (0.7, 1.3)</td><td>0.0 (−12.1, 11.6)</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap> <bold>Conclusion:</bold> In conjunction with worse expiratory airflow, children born MLP exhibit increased risk for respiratory symptoms compared with term-born peers. Greater levels of respiratory morbidity in this gestational group raise concerns for longer term challenges, such as increased medical surveillance and further research into interventions that improve respiratory outcomes.