Jennifer L Perret1,2,3, Haydn Walters4,5, David Johns4, Lyle Gurrin1, John Burgess1, Adrian Lowe1, Bruce Thompson3,6,7, James Markos8, Stephen Morrison9, Paul Thomas10, Christine McDonald2,3, Richard Wood-Baker4, John Hopper1,11, Cecilie Svanes12, Graham Giles1,13,14, Michael Abramson6,14, Melanie Matheson1, Shyamali Dharmage1. 1. Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Melbourne. 2. Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Hospital. 3. Institute for Breathing and Sleep (IBAS). 4. 'Breathe Well' Centre of Research Excellence for Chronic Respiratory Disease and Lung Ageing, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania. 5. School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame. 6. Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, The Alfred Hospital. 7. Department of Medicine, Monash University. 8. Launceston General Hospital, Launceston, Tasmania. 9. Department of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland. 10. Department of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 11. Department of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. 12. Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. 13. Cancer Epidemiology Centre, Cancer Council Victoria. 14. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Existing evidence that supports maternal smoking to be a potential risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for adult offspring has barely been mentioned in major guideline documents, suggesting a need for more robust and consistent data. We aimed to examine whether such early life exposure can predispose to COPD in middle age, possibly through its interaction with personal smoking. METHODS: The fifth-decade follow-up of the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study cohort, which was first studied in 1968 (n = 8583), included a 2004 postal survey (n = 5729 responses) and subsequent laboratory attendance (n = 1389) for comprehensive lung function testing between 2006 and 2008. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models included sampling weights. RESULTS: Post-bronchodilator airflow obstruction (less than fifth percentile) was detected for 9.3% (n = 123) of middle-aged offspring. Its association with heavy maternal smoking (>20 cigarettes/day) during childhood was 2.7-fold higher than for those without exposure (95% confidence interval [1.3, 5.7] P = 0.009). Maternal smoking per se approximately doubled the adverse effect of personal smoking on gas transfer factor (z-score -0.46 [-0.6 to -0.3] vs -0.25 [-0.4 to -0.1], P[interaction] = 0.048) and was paradoxically associated with reduced residual volumes for non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Heavy maternal smoking during childhood appears to predispose to spirometrically defined COPD. The interplay between maternal and personal smoking on gas transfer factor suggests that early life exposure increases an individual's susceptibility to adult smoking exposure. These findings provide further evidence to suggest that maternal smoking might be a risk factor for COPD and reinforce the public health message advocating smoking abstinence.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Existing evidence that supports maternal smoking to be a potential risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for adult offspring has barely been mentioned in major guideline documents, suggesting a need for more robust and consistent data. We aimed to examine whether such early life exposure can predispose to COPD in middle age, possibly through its interaction with personal smoking. METHODS: The fifth-decade follow-up of the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study cohort, which was first studied in 1968 (n = 8583), included a 2004 postal survey (n = 5729 responses) and subsequent laboratory attendance (n = 1389) for comprehensive lung function testing between 2006 and 2008. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models included sampling weights. RESULTS: Post-bronchodilator airflow obstruction (less than fifth percentile) was detected for 9.3% (n = 123) of middle-aged offspring. Its association with heavy maternal smoking (>20 cigarettes/day) during childhood was 2.7-fold higher than for those without exposure (95% confidence interval [1.3, 5.7] P = 0.009). Maternal smoking per se approximately doubled the adverse effect of personal smoking on gas transfer factor (z-score -0.46 [-0.6 to -0.3] vs -0.25 [-0.4 to -0.1], P[interaction] = 0.048) and was paradoxically associated with reduced residual volumes for non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Heavy maternal smoking during childhood appears to predispose to spirometrically defined COPD. The interplay between maternal and personal smoking on gas transfer factor suggests that early life exposure increases an individual's susceptibility to adult smoking exposure. These findings provide further evidence to suggest that maternal smoking might be a risk factor for COPD and reinforce the public health message advocating smoking abstinence.
Authors: Jennifer L Perret; Danielle Wurzel; E Haydn Walters; Adrian J Lowe; Caroline J Lodge; Dinh S Bui; Bircan Erbas; Gayan Bowatte; Melissa A Russell; Bruce R Thompson; Lyle Gurrin; Paul S Thomas; Garun Hamilton; John L Hopper; Michael J Abramson; Anne B Chang; Shyamali C Dharmage Journal: BMJ Open Respir Res Date: 2022-06
Authors: Shyamali C Dharmage; Jennifer L Perret; John A Burgess; Caroline J Lodge; David P Johns; Paul S Thomas; Graham G Giles; John L Hopper; Michael J Abramson; E Haydn Walters; Melanie C Matheson Journal: Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis Date: 2016-08-16