Understanding the childhood origins of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Insights from birth cohorts and studies across the life-span

Birth cohorts have identified modifiable risk factors for asthma and respiratory health in children and adults, demonstrating the important role and pathways through which early-life events influence not only child outcomes but also adult health, disease, and mortality. This focused literature update from 2021 to 2024 summarizes birth cohort studies across the life-span that contribute to our understanding of risk factors for and the childhood origins of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that may inform prevention efforts. We conclude that there are critical periods of developmental plasticity and susceptibility during which early-life events and exposures likely have the greatest impact on the development of asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease phenotypes, and that there are important prenatal and early childhood exposures, which, if modified, might be candidates for improving respiratory health across the life-span. Birth cohorts have been and will continue to be critical to advancing our understanding of lung health and disease across the life-span, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As child mortality declines and the human population ages, data from birth cohort studies are needed to inform strategies for optimizing healthy longevity, including the investment in understanding the lifelong consequences of adverse prenatal and early childhood exposures.