Extract
Persistent airflow limitation in children and young adults is emerging as an umbrella term encompassing various biological and clinical manifestations occurring during the lifespan and starting before birth [1, 2]. The previous model of an accelerated decline of lung function, that would become manifest in adult life in susceptible individuals when chronically exposed to environmental noxious agents, such as cigarette smoke and other inhaled gases, has made way for a more comprehensive model where events occurring during the first years of life are key in predicting the trend of one's lung function during the lifespan [3–6]. Asthma and lower respiratory tract infections (LRIs) are major factors determining low lung function early in life, can persist into young adulthood and become fixed airflow limitation [7, 8]. However, to which extent, and what kind of, respiratory infections in early life are associated with the risk of wheezing or asthma in later life remains unknown.
Abstract
The small airways are key for the childhood events that shape into chronic fixed airflow limitation later in life https://bit.ly/3OOBdeW
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: F. Polverino reports grants from NHLBI (HL149744); and the following leadership role: American Thoracic society RCMB assembly, executive committee member. J.M. Marin reports grants from Instituto Salud Carlos III (PI21/01954, PI18/01524, PM21/0090).
Support statement: F. Polverino is supported by the Baylor College of Medicine Funds, and the NIH/NHLBI HL149744 research grant. J.M. Marin is supported by grants from Instituto Salud Carlos III and European Regional Development Funds (PI18/01524, PI21/01954 and PM21/0090). Funding information for this article has been deposited with the Crossref Funder Registry.
- Received June 14, 2022.
- Accepted June 21, 2022.
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