Rationale Increased outdoor air pollution worsens lung function in children. However, these associations are less well studied in preterm-born individuals. Objectives We assessed associations between ambient air pollutants and spirometry measures in preterm-born children. Methods The Respiratory Health Outcomes in Neonates study recruited preterm-born children aged 7–12 years who were born at ≤34 week's gestation. We associated four ambient air pollutants (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5), PM10, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide) at time of birth and spirometry assessment and averaged exposure between these two time points with spirometry measures, using linear regression analyses. Gestational age was banded into 23–28, 29–31 and 32–34 week's. Regression models estimated spirometry values against pollutant levels at birth and at the time of spirometry. Measurements and main results From 565 preterm-born children, 542 (96%) had satisfactory data. After adjustments for early and current life factors, significant detrimental associations were noted between PM10 at birth and per cent predicted forced vital capacity (%FVC) for the 23–28 and 29–31 week's gestation groups and between current PM2.5 and NO2 exposure and %FVC for the 23–28 week's gestation group. No associations with spirometry were noted for the averaged pollution exposure between birth and spirometry. Predictive models showed 5.9% and 7.4% differences in %FVC between the highest and lowest current pollution exposures for PM2.5 and NO2, respectively, in the 23–28 week group. Conclusions Birth and current exposures to road-traffic-associated pollutants detrimentally affected %FVC in preterm-born school-aged children, who already have compromised lung function. Data are available on reasonable request. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as online supplemental information. Data from the RHiNO study are available to research collaborators subject to confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. Contact Professor SK (kotechas@cardiff.ac.uk) for any data requests.

中文翻译：

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环境空气污染对早产学龄儿童肺功能的影响

基本原理 室外空气污染加剧会导致儿童肺功能恶化。然而，这些关联在早产儿中的研究还较少。目标 我们评估了早产儿环境空气污染物与肺活量测量之间的关联。方法新生儿呼吸系统健康结果研究招募了孕龄≤34周出生的7-12岁早产儿。我们将出生时的四种环境空气污染物（空气动力学直径 ≤2.5 µm 的颗粒物 (PM2.5)、PM10、二氧化氮 (NO2) 和二氧化硫）与肺活量测定评估相关联，并将这两个时间点之间的平均暴露量与肺活量测定措施相关联，使用线性回归分析。孕龄分为 23-28 周、29-31 周和 32-34 周。回归模型根据出生时和肺活量测定时的污染物水平估计肺活量测定值。测量和主要结果 在 565 名早产儿中，542 名（96%）获得了满意的数据。对早期和当前生活因素进行调整后，我们注意到出生时 PM10 与妊娠 23-28 周和 29-31 周组的预测用力肺活量百分比 (%FVC) 之间以及当前 PM2.5 和 NO2 暴露之间存在显着的有害关联以及 23-28 周妊娠组的 %FVC。出生和肺量测定之间的平均污染暴露与肺量测定没有关联。预测模型显示，在 23-28 周组中，当前 PM2.5 和 NO2 污染暴露最高和最低值之间的 %FVC 差异分别为 5.9% 和 7.4%。结论 出生时和当前接触道路交通相关污染物会对早产学龄儿童的 %FVC 产生不利影响，这些儿童的肺功能已经受损。可根据合理要求提供数据。与研究相关的所有数据都包含在文章中或作为在线补充信息上传。RHiNO 研究的数据可供研究合作者使用，但须遵守保密和非披露协议。如需任何数据请求，请联系 SK 教授 (kotechas@cardiff.ac.uk)。