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 i..