A risk factor for early wheezing in infants: rapid weight gain

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between rapid weight gain and early wheezing. METHODS: This study screened 701 infants with lower respiratory tract infection who were no more than 4 months from Jan 1st to Dec 31st in 2018. According to weight-for-age Z-value (WAZ), these infants were divided into the considerably slow weight gain group (group I), the normal weight gain group (group II) and the excessively rapid weight gain group (group III), respectively. The clinical characteristics, weight growth speeds and serum lipid levels were analyzed, and multivariable Logistic model was conducted to select significant variables. RESULTS: Our results showed that male (OR = 1.841, 95%CI: 1.233–2.751), family wheezing (OR = 5.118, 95%CI: 2.118–12.365), age (OR = 1.273, 95%CI: 1.155–1.403), eczema (OR = 2.769, 95%CI: 1.793–4.275), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection (OR = 1.790, 95%CI: 1.230–2.604), birth weight (OR = 1.746, 95%CI: 1.110–2.746) and total cholesterol (TC) (OR = 1.027, 95%CI: 1.019–1.036) and ΔWAZ (OR = 1.182, 95%CI: 1.022–1.368) were associated with early wheezing. Results indicated that serum TC (P = 0.018) and ΔWAZ (P = 0.023) were positive correlation with wheezing days. CONCLUSION: Besides male, family wheezing, age, eczema, RSV infection, birth weight and TC, the rapid weight growth as a risk factor should be concerned in the early wheezing infants.