The prevalence and risk factors of allergic and respiratory symptoms in a regional cohort of extremely low birth weight children (<1000 g)

Table 3 Comparison of selected factors between the group of ELBW infants with and without wheeze in the last year

	Without wheeze in last year (n=55)	Wheeze in the last year (n=26)	p value
Perinatal factors
Birth weight (g), mean (SD)	853±139	830±159	0.8^a
Gestational age (weeks), mean (SD)	27.3±2.1	27.3±2.6	0.9^a
Female	37 (67%)	15 (58%)	0.5^b
Length of mechanical ventilation (Me; 25-75^th percentile) (days)	17 (2–48)	24 (6–39)	0.8^c
Length of oxygen therapy (Me; 25-75^th percentile) (days)	44 (13–77)	55 (34–74)	0.9^c
Oxygen therapy at least 28 days	34 (62%)	19 (73%)	0.5^b
Oxygen therapy at the 36 PMA	21 (38%)	10 (38%)	1.0^b
Infancy
Wheeze in the first 24 months of life	29 (53%)	21 (81%)	0.03^b
Hospitalization in the first 24 months of life	25 (45%)	19 (73%)	0.03^b
Immunoprophylaxis with palimivizumab	8 (15%)	2 (8%)	0.5^b
Atopy
Parental history of atopy	9 (17%)	5 (22%)	0.8^b
Passive smoking	4 (7%)	4 (15%)	0.26^b
Pets at home	21 (40%)	11 (48%)	0.7^b
serum tIgE (Me; 25-75^th percentile)	22 (12–68)	34 (12–73)	0.3^c
Absoulte eosinophil count (eos/uL	230±137	338±275	0.03^a
Positive SPT	4 (7%)	4 (15%)	0.26^b
Recent status
Hospitalization in the last year	2 (4%)	12 (46%)	<0.01^b
Current medications	11 (20%)	15 (58%)	0.002^b
FEV₁ (%)	80±13	83±16	0.61^a
Δ%FEV₁ (%)	1±7	16±13	0.002^a
Δ%FEV₁ >12%	0/14	4/8 (50%)	0.01^b

ISSN: 1824-7288