Episodes of childhood pneumonia or pleurisy by age seven are associated with modestly smaller lung volumes in middle age, according to new research.
The research, from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study cohort, involved comprehensive measures of lung function in participants at age seven and again at ages 45 and 53.
The study found that in 14.2% of children, parents reported their child had experienced a doctor-diagnosed pneumonia or pleurisy. This was associated with mildly obstructive pre-bronchodilator spirometry at age seven.
Childhood pneumonia/pleurisy was also associated with 3.02-fold increase in spirometric restriction at ages 45 and 53 compared to participants with no history of childhood pneumonia.
Total lung capacity (TLC) and functional residual capacity (FRC) were reduced across increasing childhood pneumonia/pleurisy categories from never (0 episodes) to ever (1-2 episodes) and recurrent (>2 episodes).
The impact was greater in never smokers compared to ever-smokers.
Childhood pneumonia/pleurisy was also associated with increases in carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (Kco) (ie, TLco per unit of accessible alveolar volume) at ages 45 and 53 years.