The effect of catch-up growth in the first year of life on later wheezing phenotypes

Although wheezing phenotypes have previously been accurately described using well-defined cohorts reporting longitudinal wheezing, early-life factors which lead to development of each wheezing phenotype remain uncertain [1, 2]. Birth weight and catch-up growth affect later respiratory outcomes [3], but the influence of weight gain on specific wheezing phenotypes in term-born children has not been described. Rapid weight gain in early-life is associated with increased rates of childhood wheeze and lower lung function [4, 5]. In one meta-analysis rapid infant weight gain was linked to pre-school wheeze and school-aged asthma; and to increased childhood respiratory symptoms in another meta-analysis [6, 7]. Effect of weight gain in early-life in term-born children on wheezing in early-life is less well reported [8]. In contrast, rapid increase in body mass index in infancy is associated with increased risk of asthma at school-age in preterm-born infants [9]. This study shows that catch-up growth in infancy is associated with increased early wheeze in childhood, so care is needed to not to excessively feed in early infancy https://bit.ly/2YPxtBw