Transient tachypnea of the newborn may be an early clinical manifestation of wheezing symptoms.

OBJECTIVE To determine risk factors associated with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) and whether TTN is associated with development of wheezing syndromes in early life. STUDY DESIGN The Population Health Research Data Repository at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy is a healthcare administrative and prescription database. Data for children diagnosed with a wheezing syndrome (defined as bronchiolitis, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, or prescription for asthma medication) were obtained. Term children diagnosed with TTN at birth were selected. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis for time to first event of hospitalizations, physician visits, or prescription for an asthma medication up to 7 years of age were calculated. The hazard ratios for wheezing in a child with TTN were compared with healthy newborns. RESULTS Twelve thousand seven hundred sixty-three children were born at term in 1995 and currently live in the province of Manitoba. Of these children, 308 (2.4%) developed TTN. Maternal asthma, birth weight > or = 4500 g, male sex, and urban location were risk factors for development of TTN. Infants with TTN at birth were at significantly increased risk of a wheezing disorder in childhood (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.17, 95% CI 1.02-1.34). CONCLUSION TTN is associated with development of wheezing syndromes in childhood.