Persisting hypoxaemia is an insufficient measure of adverse lung function in very immature infants

Background

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), defined as protracted neonatal hypoxaemia, is considered a risk factor for respiratory disease in adulthood. The relationship between this diagnosis and the actual lung injury appearing in very immature infants is, however, unknown.

Objectives

To compare lung function at term in very immature infants and full-term infants, and to determine how degree and duration of neonatal...