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P42
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE IN
CHILDREN: SIMILARITIES AND DISCREPANCIES WITH
ADULTS

K. DERBEL, S. KHALDI, B. BARKOUS, A. SAYHI, F. GUEZGUEZ, S. ROUATBI
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL EXPLORATIONS, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF
FARHAT HACHED, SOUSSE- TUNISIA
RESEARCH LABORATORY, LR12SP09

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory
condition of increasing interest. It mostly affects adults and it is rarely described in
pediatric population as it is often misdiagnosed as asthma.
OBJECTIVE: Establish a comparison of clinical and spirometric outcomes between
children and adult COPD.

METHODS: It was a cross sectional study including 53 patients with COPD. Two
groups were identified: GC (children, n=20) and GA (adults, n=33). They answered a
standard medical questionnaire and underwent pre- and post-bronchodilator
spirometry. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity
(FVC) in percentage, pre- and post-bronchodilator were collected. COPD diagnosis
was retained, according to GOLD, as the FEV1/FVC ratio was less than 0.7 post-
bronchodilator.

RESULTS: GC and GA were matched for sex (20% vs 36% females, p=0.208). Mean age
was 12±4 and 66±10 years in GC and GA. GC included statistically more underweight
patients than GA (50% vs 18%, p=0.014). In GA, 64% of the patients were smokers vs
10% in GC (p=0.001). The two groups presented similar respiratory symptoms (such as
dyspnea, coughing and sputum (p>0.05). Nasal symptoms, mainly rhinorrhea, were
more frequent in GC (p=0.002). Mean FEV1 and FVC (pre- and post-bronchodilator)
were similar in the two groups (p>0.05). In GC, 35% had primary ciliary dyskinesia and
10% had bronchiectasis. Whereas, in GA, 64%, 18% and 6% were regular cigarette
smokers, had bronchiectasis and were exposed to wood smoke.
CONCLUSION: Spirometric profile of COPD children seems to be similar to that of
adults. However, children often present growth faltering due to the associated
abnormalities in their respiratory system, mainly primary ciliary dyskinesia, and
bronchiectasis. Therefore, Risk factors of COPD can be identified from childhood
onwards which could prevent the risk of lung function impairment in adulthood.

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