Abstract:
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Recent years have witnessed critical contributions to our
understanding of the determinants and long-term implications of
lung function development. In this article, we review studies
that have contributed to advances in understanding lung function
development and its critical importance for lung health into
adult life. In particular, we have focused on early life
determinants that include genetic factors, perinatal events,
environmental exposures, lifestyle, infancy lower respiratory
tract infections, and persistent asthma phenotypes. Longitudinal
studies have conclusively demonstrated that lung function
deficits that are established by school age may track into adult
life and increase the risk of adult lung obstructive diseases,
such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Furthermore,
these contributions have provided initial evidence in support of
a direct influence by early life events on an accelerated
decline of lung function and an increased susceptibility to its
environmental determinants well into adult life. As such, we
argue that future health-care programs based on precision
medicine approaches that integrate deep phenotyping with
tailored medication and advice to patients should also foster
optimal lung function growth to be fully effective. |