{"id":17,"date":"2026-08-23T18:48:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T18:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.rhino-health.org\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2026-08-27T13:13:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T13:13:40","slug":"rhino-study","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rhino-health.org\/?page_id=17","title":{"rendered":"RHiNO Study"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
The RHiNO Study<\/div>\n

From early-life respiratory risk to lifelong lung health<\/h1>\n

\n Respiratory Health Outcomes in Neonates (RHiNO) was established to understand why some children
\n born preterm develop respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function, how these abnormalities can
\n be characterised, and whether they can be treated.\n <\/p>\n

\n Original recruitment and study visits were completed in November 2019.<\/strong>
\n The RHiNO programme continues through analysis, publication and longitudinal follow-up.<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n \"Illustration\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n
\n
What was RHiNO?<\/div>\n

A detailed childhood study of respiratory health after preterm birth<\/h2>\n

\n RHiNO studied children aged 7\u201312 years to determine why children born preterm have more respiratory
\n symptoms and lower lung-function measurements than children born at term. The programme combined
\n population screening with detailed physiological assessment, a randomised inhaler trial and advanced
\n lung imaging.\n <\/p>\n

\n
1,122<\/strong>screening questionnaires returned<\/span><\/div>\n
767<\/strong>children underwent RHiNO assessment<\/span><\/div>\n
565<\/strong>children were born preterm<\/span><\/div>\n
202<\/strong>term-born comparison participants<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n
\n
How RHiNO developed<\/div>\n

From population research to deep phenotyping<\/h2>\n
\n
\n 2012 onward<\/span><\/p>\n

RANOPs and population studies<\/h3>\n

\n Earlier Welsh studies used large-scale questionnaires to investigate respiratory and
\n neurodevelopmental outcomes after preterm birth. Approximately 26,000 questionnaires were sent
\n and around 7,000 responses created the population foundation for subsequent RHiNO research.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2192<\/div>\n
\n 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

RHiNO begins<\/h3>\n

\n Families were invited into a more detailed programme combining symptoms, spirometry,
\n bronchodilator response and subsequent specialist physiological assessment.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2192<\/div>\n
\n Today<\/span><\/p>\n

Life-course PLD research<\/h3>\n

\n RHiNO has evolved into a programme studying prematurity-associated lung disease,
\n its physiological phenotypes, mechanisms, treatment responses and trajectories towards adulthood.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
Who took part?<\/div>\n

A deeply characterised cohort of preterm-born and term-born children<\/h2>\n

\n RHiNO deliberately included children born preterm with a range of later respiratory outcomes,
\n together with term-born comparison participants. This allowed the programme to separate the effects
\n of preterm birth from the physiological patterns found later in childhood.\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n
565<\/div>\n

Born preterm<\/h3>\n

Children born prematurely across a range of gestational ages and respiratory outcomes.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n
202<\/div>\n

Born at term<\/h3>\n

Comparison participants studied using the same core respiratory assessments.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n
53<\/div>\n

Randomised inhaler trial<\/h3>\n

Preterm-born children with reduced lung function entered the three-month treatment trial.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n
65<\/div>\n

Advanced MRI<\/h3>\n

Children travelled to Sheffield for specialist hyperpolarised-gas lung MRI.<\/p>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
What did participants do?<\/div>\n

A staged programme of increasingly detailed respiratory assessment<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
1<\/div>\n

Questionnaires<\/h3>\n

Respiratory symptoms, health history and relevant early-life information.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n
2<\/div>\n

Spirometry<\/h3>\n

Standardised measurement of expiratory airflow and response to bronchodilator.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n
3<\/div>\n

Detailed physiology<\/h3>\n

Further lung-function testing, exercise assessment and detailed respiratory phenotyping.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n
4<\/div>\n

Treatment trial<\/h3>\n

A three-month randomised trial of inhaled therapies used commonly in asthma.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n
5<\/div>\n

Advanced MRI<\/h3>\n

Specialist radiation-free hyperpolarised-gas imaging to examine regional lung structure and function.<\/p>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
The study pathway<\/div>\n

From invitation to discovery<\/h2>\n
\n
\n 1<\/span>Screening<\/strong>Questionnaire and initial respiratory assessment<\/small>\n <\/div>\n
\u2192<\/div>\n
\n 2<\/span>Home \/ research visit<\/strong>Spirometry and bronchodilator testing<\/small>\n <\/div>\n
\u2192<\/div>\n
\n 3<\/span>Deep phenotyping<\/strong>Detailed physiology in Cardiff<\/small>\n <\/div>\n
\u2192<\/div>\n
\n 4<\/span>Intervention \/ MRI<\/strong>Inhaler trial and specialist imaging<\/small>\n <\/div>\n
\u2192<\/div>\n
\n 5<\/span>Analysis & follow-up<\/strong>Phenotypes, mechanisms and trajectories<\/small>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n
\n
The RHiNO timeline<\/div>\n

How the programme has evolved<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
2012 onward<\/div>\n

Population studies<\/h3>\n

Large-scale questionnaire research establishes persistent respiratory effects after preterm birth.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
Autumn 2016<\/div>\n

RHiNO begins<\/h3>\n

Childhood respiratory assessments start across Wales.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
2016\u20132019<\/div>\n

Screening and deep phenotyping<\/h3>\n

Spirometry, bronchodilator testing and detailed physiology characterise later respiratory impairment.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
2017\u20132019<\/div>\n

Inhaler trial and MRI<\/h3>\n

Selected children enter the treatment trial and 65 undergo advanced lung MRI.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
November 2019<\/div>\n

Original study visits complete<\/h3>\n

The programme shifts from recruitment to analysis, publication and follow-up.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
2022<\/div>\n

Randomised trial published<\/h3>\n

Combined ICS\/LABA improves lung function in selected preterm-born children with reduced FEV\u2081.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
2022\u20132025<\/div>\n

PLD, imaging and mechanisms<\/h3>\n

Phenotyping, MRI, pollution, metabolomics and respiratory-mechanics studies expand the programme.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
January 2026<\/div>\n

PLD Series<\/h3>\n

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine Series integrates PLD phenotypes, trajectories and management.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
Now<\/div>\n

Longitudinal research<\/h3>\n

RHiNO is studying how lung function and PLD phenotypes evolve through adolescence towards adulthood.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
\n \"Illustration\n <\/div>\n
\n
After recruitment<\/div>\n

The value of the cohort continues to grow<\/h2>\n

\n Completion of the original study visits did not mark the end of RHiNO. The cohort has continued to
\n generate new knowledge on PLD phenotypes, inhaled treatment, exercise, advanced imaging, air pollution,
\n metabolomics and respiratory mechanics.\n <\/p>\n

\n The next phase is increasingly longitudinal: understanding which physiological abnormalities persist,
\n which change as lungs grow, and which may be modified to improve future respiratory health.\n <\/p>\n

\n Explore our discoveries<\/a>
\n PLD & phenotypes<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n
\n
Historical study archive<\/div>\n

Original participant information remains available<\/h2>\n

\n Recruitment is complete, but the original parent and child information sheets, consent\/assent materials,
\n questionnaires and descriptions of study visits remain an important record of how RHiNO was conducted.\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n

Participants & families<\/h3>\n

Historical information about visits, breathing tests, exercise testing and MRI.<\/p>\n

View participant archive \u2192<\/a>
\n <\/article>\n

\n

Research & publications<\/h3>\n

Explore the scientific outputs generated from the RHiNO programme.<\/p>\n

Browse publications \u2192<\/a>
\n <\/article>\n

\n

Our discoveries<\/h3>\n

See the major findings explained in accessible language.<\/p>\n

Explore discoveries \u2192<\/a>
\n <\/article>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
Our preterm lung research programme<\/div>\n

Following respiratory health from birth to later life<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
Birth \u2022 neonatal care<\/div>\n

AZTEC<\/h3>\n

Azithromycin Therapy for Chronic Lung Disease of Prematurity<\/strong><\/p>\n

Visit AZTEC \u2197<\/a>
\n <\/article>\n

\u2192<\/div>\n
\n
Discharge \u2022 infancy<\/div>\n

BALLOON Trial<\/h3>\n

Preventing respiratory infections after discharge<\/strong><\/p>\n

Visit BALLOON \u2197<\/a>
\n <\/article>\n

\u2192<\/div>\n
\n
Childhood \u2022 adolescence \u2022 beyond<\/div>\n

RHiNO<\/h3>\n

Respiratory Health Outcomes in Neonates<\/strong><\/p>\n

RHiNO home \u2192<\/a>
\n <\/article>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The RHiNO Study From early-life respiratory risk to lifelong lung health Respiratory Health Outcomes in Neonates (RHiNO) was established to understand why some children born preterm develop respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function, how these abnormalities can be characterised, and whether they can be treated. Original recruitment and study visits were completed in November 2019. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhino-health.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhino-health.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhino-health.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhino-health.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhino-health.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rhino-health.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39,"href":"https:\/\/rhino-health.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17\/revisions\/39"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhino-health.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}