Did my premature birth influence my development of COPD?
What studies suggest about that as well as the practice of removing tonsils
I was born a preemie weighing in at 4 pounds, and during my first six years of life, I was plagued with numerous ear infections. I now have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I wondered if my premature birth and the health challenges of my first six years influenced my much-later development of COPD. As I searched for answers, I became convinced that there’s a connection.
An extensive 2023 study of 2.4 million people in Finland and Norway suggested that preemies were more likely than full-term births to develop asthma and/or COPD. The more preterm the children were, the more likely they’d develop chronic lung disease, according to the study. I don’t know how preterm I was, so I wanted to see more evidence.
That led me to work by University of Melbourne researchers who looked at a longitudinal study that included measurements of the lung function of 53-year-olds who’d been followed from age 7. They found that preterm babies were more likely to develop COPD.
So now I’m mildly convinced that my premature birth some 81 years ago may have influenced my lung development, especially since I was in an incubator for a week. I don’t know if I was administered oxygen, but my readings on the subject cause me to believe that I wasn’t.
From earaches to tonsillectomies
From as early as I can remember, I had unbelievably bad earaches. My parents took turns rocking me while my my ear was glued to a heating pad. The pain would intensify, and then I’d hear a cracking sound, which signaled the infection draining from my ear. Physicians have said that they have no idea how I can hear, given all the scar tissue on my eardrums.
Back in 1950, I had my tonsils and adenoids removed, which was supposed to alleviate some of my ear infections. I still missed 10 days of first grade because of them, and since I loved school, I must’ve been in pain to agree to stay home. Studies have since shown that the removal of these organs increases the risk of COPD later in life.
By the spring of 1951, penicillin shots, finally available in my rural community, were the miracle that allowed me to have much better attendance in my second-grade year. My behind was a little sore from the shot, but that was an easy trade-off compared with the intense pain of my ear infections.
Apparently, I was predisposed to COPD because of my premature birth, numerous ear infections, and the removal of my tonsils and adenoids. But I put the nail in my coffin by smoking.
Still, we don’t yet have the complete picture of why some smokers get COPD while others don’t, or why nonsmokers can get COPD. Jean Wright, CEO of the COPD Foundation, is on a mission to find the estimated millions who have COPD but haven’t been diagnosed. When we find those missing millions, we may find the answers to these questions.
Hopefully, COPD and other health pitfalls will be alleviated by the advancements in neonatal care and the use of oxygen with babies who are incubated because they’re premature or have low weights at birth. Researchers now recommend that tonsils and adenoids be removed less often, which some studies suggest is happening. We’re moving forward in neonatal care and, I hope, improving adult medical outcomes as a result.
Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
About the Author
Elizabeth Ann Thomas
I had the same issues as you did. Prematurely born @ 4 lbs 6 ozs, had oxygen or ventilation help according to my dad. Stayed in hospital a week. Had tonsils and adenoids removed at age 5, chronic ear infections as well. I also wonder if my mother’s smoking while pregnant had influence as well. She ended up with COPD in her 60’s. My father passed from emphysema at age 70. I’m stage 4. I was diagnosed with mild copd at age 26 after testing positive for TB. It was latent. Treated with NIH for 6 months through the CDC. Chronic bronchitis throughout adulthood. Lung cancer at age 40, stage 3 from age 40. Now at 60 stage 4 since 2016. On oxygen 24/7 in 2016 after MAC infection that took 21/2 years to treat with 3 antibiotics at high doses. Things went really downhill from that MAC infection. Of course you know each exacerbation of brings slow decline. I think of other things that may have contributed to my COPD, but I think with the accumulation of the above and the nail in my future coffin was definitely the added smoking. I sometimes feel like I was doomed from the beginning. I had no idea at the time what starting smoking was going to eventually do to me. Today, I just keep on keeping on. Thanks for the article as well as many others I have related to in the past. You are curious just like I am.
Elizabeth Ann Thomas
I forgot something I think also contributed. Chicken pox as an adult and very severe pneumonia as a complication from it.
Sandra Dymbort
Wow I too was a premature baby(3 pounds) in 1948, had many ear infections, and had my tonsils and adnoids out in the 50's.
As with you I also became a smoker and now have moderate to severe COPD. Thanks for your post. I sure there are many more out there like us.
Laurent St. Germaine
I’m a carbon copy of your background. My mother was severely addicted to smoking resulting in my being a sixth month premature baby.
At ten I suffered a perforated ear drum along with a blood drainage and stopped when I was 19 years. We all attributed my condition to swimmers ear. My mother would interchange the asthma inhaler and a draw of a cigarette.
Rita Ann Chaloner
I too was born premature i was only 3 pounds at birth, my Mum always smoked, she died from severe emphysema at age 70,
i had my tonsils out also, i have very severe emphysema although i am not on oxygen, i think i have over inflated lungs, as soon as i move i am out of breath. Thankyou for your letter's i always read them. Rita
Francis Ward
" Still, we don’t yet have the complete picture of why some smokers get COPD while others don’t, or why nonsmokers can get COPD". It's quite obvious. Genetics. There's something missing, a DNA sequence, lack of a protein or too much, that is causing us to acquire COPD.