Lifecourse predictors of adult respiratory function: results from the Newcastle Thousand Families Study

This study examined to what extent FEV1 at age 49–51 years was influenced by various factors throughout a person's life course. The study included 412 participants from the Newcastle Thousand Families cohort, with analyzed parameters including those at birth (eg birth weight), childhood (colds, URTIs, LRTIs, and other illnesses at age 0–5 years), and adulthood (body fat, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, occupation, physical activity, social class, etc). FEV1 was measured using a Vitalograph COMPACT spirometer.