Variability of Tidal Breathing Parameters in Preterm Infants and Associations with Respiratory Morbidity during Infancy: A Cohort Study

Objective: To test whether low variability of tidal volume (V _T ) and capnographic indices are predictive of subsequent respiratory morbidity in preterm infants. Study design: In a birth cohort of 133 preterm infants, lung function was performed at 44 weeks postmenstrual age. Associations between the coefficient of variation (CV) of V _T (CV _VT ) and of expired CO ₂ volume per breath (CV _VE,CO2 ) with rehospitalization, wheeze, and inhalation therapy during infancy were assessed using logistic regression. Area under the curve (AUC) analysis was used to assess whether outcome prediction using bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) classification was enhanced by CV _VT or CV _VE,CO2 . Results: For each IQR decrease in CV _VT (range, 4%-35%) and CV _VE , _CO2 (range, 5%-40%), the OR for rehospitalization increased by 2.25 (95% CI, 1.21-4.20) and 2.31 (95% CI, 1.20-4.45), respectively. The predictive value of BPD for rehospitalization was improved when CV _VT or CV _VE,CO2 was added to the model, with the AUC increasing from 0.56 to 0.66 in both models. No association was found for the other outcomes. Conclusions: Compared with BPD classification alone, including near-term variability of tidal breathing parameters improves the prediction of rehospitalization in infancy. These findings may inform parent counseling and monitoring strategies in preterm infants.