Childhood Respiratory Disease Linked To Similar Adulthood Illnesses

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Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 14 Feb 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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A new study published in the journal Thorax reports that respiratory disease during early childhood - such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma - increases the risk of illness and premature death in adulthood.

Researchers followed 9,554 males who attended Glasgow University between 1948 and 1968 and agreed to be part of a long term study to track their health. During university health examinations, doctors collected data on weight, height, and blood pressure as well as details of childhood illness, including bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia. Between 1998 and 2002, researchers were able to trace and survey 4044 out of the 8410 men who were still alive.

The study authors found that:

• Men who had bronchitis, pneumonia, or asthma in early childhood were 57% more likely to die of respiratory disease compared to men who did not have these childhood illnesses
• Those with childhood respiratory disease were two times as likely to die of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as emphysema or bronchitis
• Men who had a past history of bronchitis were about 38% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
• Respiratory illness during childhood was also associated with a higher risk of both minor and severe respiratory problems in adulthood

"A medical history of bronchitis, pneumonia or asthma in early life is associated with a higher mortality risk due to respiratory deaths and strongly associated with higher respiratory disease morbidity in adulthood. A history of bronchitis was also associated with higher CVD risk," conclude the authors.

Association between early life history of respiratory disease and morbidity and mortality in adulthood
B Galobardes, P McCarron, M Jeffreys, and G Davey Smith
Thorax. (2008)
doi10.1136/thx.2007.086744
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Written by: Peter M Crosta
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