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Burden of prematurity-associated recurrent wheezing: caregiver missed work in the D-Wheeze trial

Abstract

Objective

This study describes the burden of prematurity-associated wheezing in black infants with respect to caregiver missed work.

Study design

We analyzed data from the D-Wheeze trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01601847). Black infants between 28–0/7 to 36–6/7 weeks’ gestational age at birth receiving <28 days of supplemental oxygen were enrolled. The primary outcome was missed work to care for the infant in the first year.

Results

147/277 (53.1%) infants had caregivers who reported time off. In an adjusted model, vitamin D supplementation (OR 0.52 [95% CI 0.30–0.89]; P = 0.018), recurrent wheeze (OR 2.26 [95% CI, 1.15–4.44]; P = 0.018), and other children in the household <5 years old (OR 0.45 [95% CI 0.26–0.78]; P = 0.004) were significantly associated with caregiver missed work.

Conclusions

Black premature infants had a significant burden of caregiver missed work, emphasizing the impact of prematurity-associated wheezing.

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Fig. 1: Percentage of caregivers of infants within the sustained vitamin D supplementation cohort compared with percentage of caregivers of infants within the diet-limited vitamin D supplementation cohort who missed the indicated days of work in 1 year to care for their child.
Fig. 2: Percentage of caregivers of infants within the recurrent wheeze cohort compared with percentage of caregivers of infants within the no recurrent wheeze cohort who missed the indicated days of work in one year to care for their child.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and Office of Dietary Supplement of the National Institutes of Health (R01HL109293) and by the NHLBI (K24HL143291). We thank Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, OH for providing administrative and research assistance for this study. We thank the participants of the D-Wheeze trial for their contributions to the trial.

Funding

This study was funded by the NHLBI and ODS (R01HL109293) and by the 327 NHLBI (K24HL143291).

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

LL conceptualized and designed the study, helped to interpret the data, drafted the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. NM and CT had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and accuracy of the data analysis. They provided statistical analyses and data interpretation and reviewed and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. KRR participated in the concept, design and data acquisition of the original trial from which these data were obtained, data interpretation, and review and revision of the manuscript. LAK participated in data acquisition of the original trial from which these data were obtained, data interpretation, and review and revision of the manuscript. CLW participated in data acquisition of the original trial from which these data were obtained, data interpretation, and review and revision of the manuscript. MF participated in data acquisition of the original trial from which these data were obtained, data interpretation, and review and revision of the manuscript. SG-W participated in data acquisition of the original trial from which these data were obtained, data interpretation and review and revision of the manuscript. TZ participated in the concept and design of the original trial from which these data were obtained and review and revision of the manuscript. AMH had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. She conceptualized and designed the study, coordinated and supervised data collection, helped to interpret the data, reviewed and revised the manuscript, and obtained funding for this study. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lauren Ledingham.

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Conflict of interest

AMH and TZ reported receiving grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). KRR reported receiving grants and/or nonfinancial support from the National Institutes of Health, ODS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Teva, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Flamel, and Jazz Pharmaceuticals, and Otsuka Pharma/Pharmavite. CLW reported receiving grants and/or personal fees from the National Institutes of Health/NHLBI and Church & Dwight Inc, for which she served as a scientific consultant. SG-W reported receiving speaker honoraria from Abbott Nutrition. CT reported receiving grants from the National Institutes of Health, ODS, National Science Foundation, and Biogen. MF reported receiving grants from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD092533). LL and NM declare no potential conflict of interest.

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Ledingham, L., Tatsuoka, C., Minich, N. et al. Burden of prematurity-associated recurrent wheezing: caregiver missed work in the D-Wheeze trial. J Perinatol 41, 69–76 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0729-7

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