Presentation: Wheezing in low birth weight infants (WAO International Scientific Conference 2014)

Monday, 8 December 2014

Exhibition Hall-Poster Area (Sul America)

Gustavo Falbo Wandalsen, MD, PhD , Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Carolina Aranda, M.S.c. , Federal University of Sao Paulo, WAO Junior Member, São Paulo, Brazil

Ana Caroline Dela Bianca, PHD , Universidade Faderal De Pernambuco, Brazil

Herberto Jose Chong Neto, MD, PhD , Universidade Federal Do Paraná, Brazil

Javier Mallol, MD , Department of Pediatric and Respiratory Medicine, University of Santiago De Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile

Dirceu Sole, MD, PhD , Sao Paulo Federal University, Brazilian Society, Sao Paulo, Brazil

EISL Group Brazil , Unifesp, Ufpr, Ufpe, UFMG, UFMT, Ufpa, Ufal, Brazil

Background: The majority of children with asthma develop symptoms such as wheezing in the first years of life. Low birth weight is considered as one of the risk factors for wheezing. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of wheezing during the first year of life in low birth weight infants, using the International Study of Wheezing in Infants (EISL).

Methods: Parents of infants aged between 12 and 15 months, residents in six Brazilian cities: Belém, Belo Horizonte, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Recife and São Paulo, participated in interviews between 2005 and 2010 answered the questionnaire EISL. The infants were divided according to birth weight: normal weight (NW= 2,500g or more) or low birthweight (LW = less than 2,500g). Infants were also divided according to the frequency of wheezing episodes: recurrent wheezing (RWh, three or more episodes) and severe recurrent wheezing (SRWh, six or more episodes or were hospitalized for wheezing).

Results: 12,582 valid questionnaires were considered, and 11,411 (90.7%) infants were born with NW and 1,171 (9.3%) with LW. For the RWh, was 2,488 (21.9%) infants in the NW group and 331 (28.3%) in LW group (p <0.001). Presented SRWh, 1,491 infants (13.1%) of the NW group and 248 (21.2%) of LW (p <0.001) group.

Conclusions: The prevalence of wheezing, especially in low birth weight infants is very high. Actions against smoking and complete pre-natal care would decrease the chances of the birth of low weight children.

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