Associations between birth weight and lung function in a Japanese adult population: The tohoku medical megabank community-based cohort study

Background: Birth weight, as a measure of intrauterine growth, is commonly used in epidemiological studies and is reported to be associated with adult lung function. However, findings regarding this association in previous studies have been inconsistent. Furthermore, no studies have reported associations stratified by age or smoking status, or adjusted for eosinophil count or other parameters related to type 2 airway inflammation.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2632 men and 7237 women aged ≥20 years living in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Lung function was assessed based on spirometry. Birth weight data were obtained through a questionnaire survey. Analysis of covariance was used to evaluate the associations between birth weight and lung function, adjusting for potential confounders. Stratified analyses by age and smoking status were also conducted, together with a sub-analysis for low birth-weight participants.

Results: Birth weight was positively associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) for both sexes and with vital capacity in women, after adjusting for height, age, smoking status, and parameters related to type 2 airway inflammation. The stratified analysis for smoking status revealed associations in never-smokers and ex-smokers. When stratified by age, the associations were confirmed in middle-aged participants. The effect of smoking status on the FEV₁ of low birth-weight participants was not significant.

Conclusions: Our analysis of a large, Japanese adult population showed that birth weight was independently and positively associated with adult lung function, even after adjustment for age, height, smoking status, and parameters related to type 2 airway inflammation.