Pulmonary function in school-aged children with mild to moderate infant respiratory distress syndrome requiring nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate whether mild to moderate infant respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) might affect the pulmonary function in school-aged children.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 50 children, aged 10.2 +/- 2.8 years, with a history of RDS and 90 controls without a neonatal history of lung diseases, matched for age and gestational age at birth, were studied. Pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry and oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximeter

RESULTS: The incidence of respiratory tract infections within the first 6 years after discharge from the intensive care neonatal unit was higher in the RDS group than in controls (P < 0.05). Spirometric parameters of the pulmonary function were comparable in both groups. Oxygen saturation was significantly lower in the RDS group (96.2 +/- 7 vs. 97.3 +/- 7%; P < 0.05). A significant negative correlation between spirometric parameters and the duration of NCPAP application and the duration of oxygen supplementation has been found.

CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary function assessed by spirometry was normal in school-aged children with infant RDS. However; spirometric parameters were negatively correlated with the duration of NCPAP and the duration of oxygen supplementation. In comparison with the controls, children with infant RDS had a higher incidence of respiratory tract infections (laryngitis, acute bronchitis and pneumonia) within the first 6 years of life, as well as lower oxygen saturation.