Effect of bronchodilators on forced expiratory volume in 1 s in preterm-born participants aged 5 and over: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Preterm-born participants are at risk of long-term deficits in percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%FEV1). Since it is unclear if these deficits respond to bronchodilators, we systematically reviewed the evidence for reversibility of deficits in %FEV1 by bronchodilators in preterm-born participants. DESIGN Studies reporting a change in %FEV1 in response to bronchodilator treatment in preterm-born participants at ≥5 years of age, with or without a term-born control group, were identified. The quality of studies was assessed by adapted tools. Due to considerable heterogeneity between studies, formal meta-analysis was not possible. RESULTS From 8,839 titles, 22 studies were identified after an updated search in May 2013. Twenty-one studies assessed the response to a single inhaled dose of a bronchodilator, and 1 study assessed longer-term effects. Most studies observed decreased %FEV1 in preterm-born participants compared with controls. Most studies observed improved %FEV1 after a single dose of bronchodilator, with the largest improvements noted in those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, who had greater deficits of %FEV1 when compared with preterm and term controls. One long-term study investigated a 2-week terbutaline administration, but the initial FEV1 after a single dose did not show a change in %FEV1 of ≥15%, but 5/29 (17%) children had an increased %FEV1 of ≥10%. CONCLUSIONS In this systematic review, disparate studies were identified. Although single doses of bronchodilators appear to improve the FEV1 in the short term, further studies are required to assess their longer-term benefits not only on airway obstruction, but also their effect on respiratory symptoms.