Neighborhood Opportunity and Early Life Indicators of Respiratory Health in Children Born Very Preterm

ABSTRACT Background Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common complication of prematurity, contributing to long term adverse respiratory outcomes that persist across the life course. However, it remains unclear how childhood opportunity impacts the underlying risk for developing BPD and post‐discharge respiratory health, both of which may impact long term outcomes. Methods Observational cohort of 845 children born very preterm (≤32 weeks), followed for post‐prematurity respiratory disease. We derived childhood opportunity index (COI) from the census tract corresponding to each subject's address. Linear regression was used to identify the impact of COI on neonatal and childhood respiratory outcomes. In a secondary analysis, we examined differences in outcomes between races (White, non‐White), across quartiles of COI. Results Children residing in neighborhoods with lower COI were born at a significantly smaller birth weight, earlier gestation, and spent longer duration on mechanical ventilation (MV) in the NICU. No direct association was observed between COI and longer‐term respiratory outcomes. Racial disparities in birth outcomes within COI quartiles became more pronounced at higher levels of opportunity. Longer duration of MV in the NICU was significantly associated with longer‐term outcomes including increased hospital readmissions in early life and lower FEV 1 and FVC % predicted in childhood. Conclusion Low COI is associated with longer duration of MV in the NICU, which itself is associated with increased healthcare utilization and reduced functional respiratory outcomes. Racial disparities in birth outcomes within similar neighborhood contexts demonstrate the need for targeted interventions to advance health equity in this population of vulnerable infants.