Childhood Bronchitis And Adult Respiratory Outcomes: A Prospective Study From Age 7 To 53 Years

Rationale: It is unclear if childhood bronchitis is associated with adverse respiratory outcomes in middle-age Aim: To determine the relationships between childhood bronchitis frequency/duration and clinical outcomes in middle-aged Australians Methods: Data were from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS, 1968-2016). Four categories of parent-reported bronchitis by age 7 were none (reference), non-recurrent, recurrent (\u003e5 episodes of “loose, rattly” or chesty cough lasting 5 episodes, ≥1 month average duration). Outcomes at age 53 included chronic bronchitis (CB), asthma and pre/post-bronchodilator (BD) spirometry. Trend tests, mediation analysis and multivariable regression were used Results: Increasing childhood bronchitis severity was associated with adult asthma/pneumonia-ever (p-trend\u003c0.001) but not adult current CB. Associations with lung function were less clear. Asthma and FEV1 at age 7 were mediators\n Conclusion: Dose-response relationships were seen between increasing childhood bronchitis and outcomes other than bronchitis in middle-age. Further delineation of longitudinal phenotypes is needed Grant Support: NHMRC; Clifford Craig \u0026 Asthma Foundations; GSK; RHH