Cardiopulmonary Function Abnormalities in Cohort of Adults following Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia as Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVE:  This study was aimed to describe the cardiopulmonary profiles of adult patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), comparing them to normative adult values.

STUDY DESIGN:  This study presents a retrospective chart review of all BPD patients followed in the adult BPD clinic, identified from institutional and archive databases, born preterm at ≤33 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA) between January 1980 and December 2000.

RESULTS:  Forty-four patients with BPD (26.4 ± 2.7 weeks of EGA) were included. Average age at follow-up was 19 years. Majority (61.4%) of the patients had a diagnosis of asthma. Mean spirometry values were: first second of forced expiration (FEV1) 74.1%, forced vital capacity (FVC) 80.7%, and FEV1/FVC 82.5%. Echocardiography (ECHO) images were reviewed, left ventricular (LV) structure and performance did not differ between obstructive and nonobstructive pulmonary function test (PFT) groups, but values of LV longitudinal strain were 4.8% lower than expected normal for adults. Patients with obstructive PFT had additional decreased right ventricular (RV) function by ECHO.

CONCLUSION:  BPD patients in this study were found to have a burden of cardiorespiratory alterations that persisted into adulthood, with RV performance abnormalities found among patients with obstructive PFT.

KEY POINTS: · BPD patients born at extremes of prematurity have cardiorespiratory alterations in adulthood.. · Among patients with obstructive lung function, subtle cardiac performance abnormalities were found.. · Future directions should include systematic follow-up of premature newborns with BPD..