Table 5

Serum IgE concentration, lung function measures, and prevalence of respiratory symptoms and disease according to head circumference at birth

Head circumference (cm)Totalp for trend5-150
⩽32-33-34>34
IgE n=192 n=240 n=147 n=139 n=718
 Total IgE (IU/ml)5-160 29.524.431.342.330.5 (4.6)0.1
 Prevalence of specific IgE (cat, mite or pollen)21.4%20.4%26.5%25.2%22.8%0.5
Lung function n=194 n=239 n=150 n=142 n=725
 FEV1(l)5-165 3.093.133.093.063.09 (0.54)0.55-168
5-150FVC (l)5-165 4.324.324.224.224.27 (0.65)0.25-168
 FEV1/FVC5-165 0.7170.7260.7350.7300.727 (0.081)0.25-168
Respiratory symptoms and disease n=251 n=301 n=178 n=174 n=904
 Wheeze13.9%11.0%11.8%9.8%11.7%0.6
 Productive cough6.0%4.7%3.4%3.5%4.6%0.9
 Obstructive airways disease8.7%17.9%21.9%13.2%18.0%0.7
  • Values are mean except where given as %.

  • 5-150 p value adjusted for sex.

  • 5-160 Geometric means and standard deviation.

  • 5-165 Means adjusted for sex, height and age.

  • 5-168 p value also adjusted for height and age.