Lower respiratory tract infections in early childhood doubles risk of premature death in adulthood: Lancet
UK: A team of researchers from the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, in their latest research article, has concluded that people with a history of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) by 2 years of age are likely to die (premature death) due to respiratory disease in adulthood compared to those adults who never had early childhood LRTI. The risk of premature death is twice as in children with LRTI accounting for one-fifth of these deaths, the Lancet study mentions.
The researchers did not explain this association relating to socioeconomic circumstances and adult smoking. The team mentioned a need for preventive strategies spanning the whole life course to avoid adult disease development and the perpetuation of child health inequities.
Early childhood LRTIs influence the development of the lung and its lifelong health. There needs to be more data on the link between respiratory disease and premature adult death, as the research in this context is unclear.
The researcher's team, led by James Peter Allinson, estimated this association and burden of adult mortality from the respiratory disease from age 26 through 73 years.
The study points include the following:
· The data was from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development.
· The cohort was recruited of 5362 participants at birth in March 1946 in England, Scotland, and Wales.
· Early childhood LRTI was reported by parents or guardians, while the cause of mortality was obtained from the National Health Service Central Register.
· 4032 participants constituting 75%, continued their participation in the study at the age of 20–25 years.
· The survival analysis included 3589 participants aged 26 years, 51% male and 49% from 1972 onwards.
· The follow-up time was 47·9 years.
· Among 3589 participants, 913, constituting 25% with LRTI history during early childhood, were at greater risk of dying by age 73 due to respiratory disease. This was compared to those who had no such history, with an HR of 1.93
· The population attributable risk of 20·4% and 179 188 excess deaths across England and Wales between 1972 and 2019 was recorded.
Concluding further, LRTI increased the risk of premature adult death twice from respiratory disease. This association could be explained by lower adult lung and lung function appear modifiable by smoking status in adolescents and asthma, preventing naturally occurring catch-up growth during adolescence.
The team discussed identifying these children and optimising their health as their growth progresses towards adulthood to break the connection between this association.
Further reading:
Early childhood lower respiratory tract infection and premature adult death from respiratory disease in Great Britain: a national birth cohort study https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00131-9/fulltext#%2
