Adverse Effects of Smoking on Respiratory Function in Young Adults Born Weighing Less Than 1000 Grams

Abstract

Objective. To determine whether active smoking has an adverse impact on respiratory function of young adults of extremely low birth weight (ELBW; birth weight <1000 g).Methods. This was a cohort study of 60 consecutive ELBW survivors who were born during 1977–1980 at Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Respiratory function was measured on 44 (73%) of the subjects at a mean age of 20.2 years (standard deviation: 1.0 year). Respiratory function had also been measured on 42 of the 44 subjects at 8 years of age. Respiratory function was compared between the 14 smokers and the 30 nonsmokers.Results. Several respiratory function variables reflecting airflow (the forced expired volume ..