PhD Scientific Days 2025

Poster Session II. - W: Conservative Medicine

Feasibility of Lung Function Testing in Infants Involved in the Newborn Cystic Fibrosis Screening – A pilot study

Name of the presenter

Antics Dorottya

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Pediatric Center, MTA Center of Excellence, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Authors

Dorottya Antics¹, Judit Kincs¹, Andrea Pálmay¹, J. Benjámin Hérák¹, Zsüliet Bojtár¹, Dóra Krikovszky¹, Lajos Kovács¹, Zoltán Hantos Prof.², Attila J. Szabó Prof.¹, Dorottya Czövek¹

1: Pediatric Center, MTA Center of Excellence, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
2: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Text of the abstract

Introduction:
The assessment of respiratory mechanics in childhood, especially in infancy is still a great challenge for clinicians. Although several attempts have been made to improve lung function testing, there is still no technique available to assess respiratory function in children from infancy throughout childhood, especially outside of a research setting, in a busy outpatient clinic. With the improvement of therapeutic options for chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF) there is a growing need to fill this gap.

Aims:
To employ a novel lung function testing method, the oscillometry as a part of the newborn screening for CF. We aimed to assess the feasibility of the test in a routine clinical setting.

Methods:
Infants in connection with the newborn cystic fibrosis screening, who underwent a sweat test at the Pediatric clinic, were approached. Lung function test was attempted during quiet sleep. Oscillometry was recorded during spontaneous breathing via a facemask for 3-5 minutes. Respiratory impedance was measured between 7 and 47 Hz, and respiratory resistance and compliance were calculated. We gave up after 3 unsuccessful attempts.

Results:
In the 1-year study period, oscillometry was attempted in 32 infants (14 boys, age varied between five weeks and four months). In six cases quiet sleep was not achieved, three babies did not have a stable breathing pattern and in two measurements technical error occurred. Successful lung function measurements were performed in 21 infants (success rate: 66%). Resistance and compliance were on average 31,78 hPa.s/L and 0,068 mL/hPa, respectively.

Conclusion:
Our results suggest that oscillometry is suitable for infant testing even in a busy clinical outpatient setting. However it needs to be highlighted that according to our study the success of oscillometry is highly dependent on the technician and the sleeping environment.

Funding:
Hungarian Scientific Research Fund grants FK 129237 and K 128701;
János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences;
Semmelweis 250+ Excellence PhD Scholarship