Early life origins of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Background: Early life development may influence subsequent respiratory morbidity. The impact of factors determined in childhood on adult lung function, decline in lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was investigated. Methods: European Community Respiratory Health Survey participants aged 20-45 years randomly selected from general populations in 29 centres underwent spirometry in 1991-3 (n=13 359) and 9 years later (n=7738). Associations of early life factors with adult forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1 decline and COPD (FEV1/FVC ratio <70% and FEV1 <80% predicted) were analysed with generalised estimating equation models and random effects linear models..