Birth Weight and Lung Function in a Cohort of Chinese School Children

Objective: Evidence on the association between birth weight and lung function is conflicting. We evaluated the children's lung function in relation to their birth weight in China. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 1,599 school children. Baseline data on birth weight and other potential confounding variables were obtained from self-administered questionnaires. Pulmonary function tests were performed with a standard procedure and repeated 6 months later. Results: There were no significant differences in the standard deviation score (SDS) of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) between children with low birth weight (LBW) and those with normal birth weight (NBW). The growth rates in lung function between children with LBW and NBW were also insignificant. Conclusions: No association between birth weight and lung function was found among Chinese school children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:662-668. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.