Milena Bjelica - ۱. Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia ۲. Pediatric Clinic, Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Gordana Vilotijević Dautović - ۱. Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia ۲. Pediatric Clinic, Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Slobodan Spasojević - ۱. Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia ۲. Pediatric Clinic, Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Marija Đermanović - Pediatric Clinic, Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Milica Plazačić - Pediatric Clinic, Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia

Background: Preterm delivery is a risk factor for increased respiratory morbidity in early childhood. This study aimed to quantify respiratory morbidity in preterm survivors, comparing incidence rates among different gestational ages, birth weighst, and current age groups. Additionally, we sought to evaluate variations in respiratory outcomes between groups with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Methods: Our study included ۸۹ prematurely born children who were receiving palivizumab prophylaxis for respiratory syncytial virus infection. We categorized the patients based on four criteria: ۱) current age of less and more than ۱ year, ۲) gestational age (GA) of less and more than ۳۰ weeks, ۳) birth weight (BW) of less than ۱۰۰۰ g, between ۱۰۰۰ g and ۱۵۰۰ g, and more than ۱۵۰۰ g, ۴) with and without BPD. We compared these groups in terms of respiratory morbidity and respiratory therapy. Results: The average age was ۱۱.۹ months, the average GA was ۲۸.۹ weeks and the average BW was ۱۲۰۲.۴ g. According to the ۲۸-day definition of BPD ۷۵.۳% patients had BPD. Around one-third (۳۵.۹%) of patients experienced wheezing episodes, ۷.۸% had pneumonia, ۱۰.۱% were hospitalized due to respiratory exacerbation and just ۱.۱% had RSV infection. There were no statistically significant differences between the different age, GA, BW, or BPD/non-BPD groups in the number of hospitalizations or pneumonia. On the other hand, children older than ۱۲ months and children with BPD had significantly more wheezing episodes. Fifty-nine (۶۶.۳%) patients had been receiving inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), all of whom had BPD. Conclusion: Prematurely-born children receiving palivizumab had significant respiratory morbidity, but majority did not have RSV infection. Further clinical studies are necessary to improve our understanding of the role of ICS in patients with established BPD.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, palivizumab, Premature birth, respiratory infections, Wheezing