Influence of ethnic origin on respiratory distress syndrome in very premature infants
a Department of Child Health, King's College
Hospital, London, b Department of Public Health
Correspondence to: Professor Anne Greenough Department of Child Health King's College Hospital London SE5 9RS. a.greenough{at}kcl.ac.uk
Accepted 8 July 1997
AIM
To determine whether the incidence of
respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is
related to ethnic origin in very premature infants (
32 weeks
of gestational age and birthweight 2.0 kg).
METHODA retrospective cohort study was performed
to determine the incidence of respiratory disorders in African,
Caribbean, and caucasian infants. An African infant was matched with
two infants (one of Caribbean and one of caucasian descent) for
gestational age and birth order and, if several eligible matching
infants were found, for gender and approximate birth date. Fifty
African infants (median gestational age 28 weeks, range 23-32) were
matched with an infant of Caribbean and one of caucasian descent.
RESULTSCompared with the incidence of RDS in
African infants (40%), that in caucasian infants (75%) was
significantly higher (p<0.05), while the incidence in the
Caribbean infants (54%) did not differ significantly.
Regression analysis showed that ethnic origin was related to the
occurrence of RDS independent of gestational age, size for dates,
antenatal steroids, hypertension during pregnancy, premature rupture of membranes, maternal smoking, mode of delivery and infant gender.
CONCLUSIONThe enhanced lung maturation found in
certain ethnic groups, even when born prematurely, has implications for
clinical management.
© 1998 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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