Premature babies at risk of lung problems later on

According to Australian researchers some premature babies may have a higher risk of developing emphysema and other lung problems later on.

The Perth researchers make this claim following the results of a small study of 21 babies born up to four months prematurely between 1980 and 1987.

Some of the babies weighed as little as 0.6 kilograms at birth, all were at the time cared for at one hospital and all had been dependent on supplementary oxygen for more than 28 days during their stay in the hospital.

They were referred to the research team by local doctors along with relevant history and tests.

Of the 21 participants, age 17 to 33, twelve were female and nine male and all suffered from persistent respiratory symptoms.

CT scans revealed 19 had abnormalities and emphysema was the most common.

The lung condition emphysema is a progressive disease where the walls between the alveoli, or air sacs, lose their ability to stretch and recoil and as a rule smoking is the main cause of the condition though a genetic predisposition may also be a factor.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, commonly causes shortness of breath, coughing and a limited ability to exercise.

COPD affects an estimated 210 million people worldwide and major improvements in neo-natal care mean that more and more babies are surviving extreme prematurity.

The researchers said it was surprising that so many of the volunteers had areas of emphysema, and this may be because they were born so prematurely.

Researchers Dr Daniel Chambers of the Prince Charles Hospital and Dr Andrew Wilson of the Princess Margaret and Royal Perth Hospitals, say larger, controlled, population-based studies are urgently required to fully define and guide the management of adult lung disease with extreme preterm birth.

The researchers say the findings mean doctors will have to pay more attention to the birth history of people born so prematurely, as they may be at higher risk of lung disease later in life.

They also say findings highlight the added risks of smoking for people who were born prematurely.

The study is published in the European Respiratory Journal.