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Apr 19 2025
5A recent clinical trial conducted at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has identified a promising approach to improving lung development in preterm infants by extending the use of a common neonatal therapy. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, highlights that adding two extra weeks of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) leads to notably better lung growth and respiratory outcomes.
CPAP is routinely used in NICUs to support preterm infants who struggle with breathing due to underdeveloped lungs. However, the duration of this treatment typically ends once the infant no longer shows signs of respiratory distress. This new research challenges that standard by demonstrating the benefits of continuing CPAP treatment beyond current practice timelines.
According to Dr. Cindy McEvoy, the study's lead author and professor of pediatrics at OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, the extended use of CPAP can provide long-term respiratory advantages. “Low lung function in infancy often persists into adulthood,” McEvoy explained. “Our findings suggest that a small adjustment in the duration of CPAP therapy may help improve respiratory health over the course of a child’s life.”
The randomized controlled trial involved 100 stable preterm infants. Researchers found that those who received an additional two weeks of CPAP had significantly larger lung volumes when assessed at six months of age—an important indicator of healthy lung development. These infants also demonstrated better gas exchange abilities and stronger airway function. Notably, they experienced reduced wheezing up to 12 months of age compared to infants who received standard-duration CPAP.
Preterm birth, which affects around 10% of U.S. births annually—roughly 400,000 infants—is a leading cause of impaired lung development. Infants born prematurely are at greater risk for asthma, frequent respiratory infections, and hospitalizations related to lung issues. The researchers emphasized that this simple, non-pharmacologic intervention could help mitigate these long-term health challenges.
Dr. Dmitry Dukhovny, medical director of the NICU at Doernbecher and co-author of the study, noted the accessibility of this treatment. “CPAP is already in use in every NICU. This makes the implementation of extended CPAP treatment both feasible and cost-effective,” he said.
Following the success of the trial, OHSU’s NICU has adopted the extended CPAP protocol and continues to observe positive outcomes. Other hospitals across the country are beginning to reassess their CPAP usage guidelines in light of these findings.
Looking ahead, the OHSU research team plans to follow the study participants through age 10, conducting annual lung function tests to evaluate the long-term benefits of prolonged CPAP treatment. The team also calls for further studies to determine the optimal CPAP duration, especially for very low birth weight infants, and to explore the potential protection against chronic conditions such as asthma and COPD in adulthood.
This research underscores how a simple extension of an existing therapy could pave the way for significantly improved respiratory health in children born preterm.
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250417144930.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong .
