@article {Doyle40, author = {L W Doyle and M M H Cheung and G W Ford and A Olinsky and N M Davis and C Callanan}, title = {Birth weight }, volume = {84}, number = {1}, pages = {40--44}, year = {2001}, doi = {10.1136/adc.84.1.40}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {AIMS To determine the respiratory health in adolescence of children of birth weight \<1501 g, and to compare the results with normal birthweight controls.METHODS Prospective cohort study of children born in the Royal Women{\textquoteright}s Hospital, Melbourne. Two cohorts of preterm children (86 consecutive survivors 500{\textendash}999 g birth weight, and 124 consecutive survivors 1000{\textendash}1500 g birth weight) and a control group of 60 randomly selected children \>2499 g birth weight were studied. Children were assessed at 14 years of age. A paediatrician determined the clinical respiratory status. Lung function was measured according to standard guidelines.RESULTS Of 180 preterm children seen at age 14, 42 (23\%) had bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in the newborn period. Readmission to hospital for respiratory ill health was infrequent in all groups and the rates of asthma were similar (15\% in the 500{\textendash}999 g birth weight group, 21\% in the 1000{\textendash}1500 g birth weight group, 21\% in controls; 19\% BPD, 18\% no BPD). Overall, lung function was mostly within the normal range for all cohorts; few children had lung function abnormalities in clinically significant ranges. However, the preterm children had significantly lower values for variables reflecting flow. Lung function in children of 500{\textendash}999 g birth weight was similar to children of 1000{\textendash}1500 g birth weight. Preterm children with BPD had significantly lower values for variables reflecting flow than children without BPD.CONCLUSIONS The respiratory health of children of birth weight \<1501 g at 14 years of age is comparable to that of term controls.}, issn = {0003-9888}, URL = {https://adc.bmj.com/content/84/1/40}, eprint = {https://adc.bmj.com/content/84/1/40.full.pdf}, journal = {Archives of Disease in Childhood} }