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Aerobic capacity and exercise performance in young people born extremely preterm

Hege Clemm1, Ola Røksund, Einar Thorsen

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021, Bergen, Norway.

Pediatrics
|December 28, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children born extremely preterm achieve normal aerobic capacity and exercise performance comparable to term-born peers. Physical activity positively impacts fitness in both groups, with no change observed over two decades.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Exercise Physiology
  • Neonatal Follow-up Studies
  • Cardiorespiratory Fitness Assessment

Background:

  • Extremely preterm birth (gestational age ≤28 weeks or birth weight ≤1000 g) presents significant health challenges.
  • Long-term outcomes regarding aerobic capacity and exercise performance in extremely preterm individuals require further investigation.
  • Understanding potential cohort effects across different birth decades is crucial for tracking developmental trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare aerobic capacity and exercise performance between extremely preterm-born and term-born children and adolescents.
  • To examine the relationship between medical history, lifestyle factors, and exercise outcomes.
  • To assess potential cohort effects by analyzing subjects born in different decades.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized standardized maximal treadmill exercise and pulmonary function tests for assessment.
  • Compared two cohorts of extremely preterm subjects (born 1982-1985 and 1991-1992) with matched term-born controls.
  • Collected background data through questionnaires and medical records.

Main Results:

  • Aerobic capacity measures were similar between preterm and term-born groups; running distance was modestly reduced in the preterm group.
  • Leisure-time physical activity positively influenced exercise capacity in both groups, though participation was lower in preterm individuals.
  • Neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia and current lung function did not correlate with exercise capacity; differences between groups remained consistent over two decades.

Conclusions:

  • Individuals born extremely preterm can achieve normal exercise capacity despite a high-risk start.
  • The response to physical training appears comparable between preterm-born and term-born individuals.
  • Long-term follow-up and lifestyle interventions remain important for optimizing health outcomes in preterm survivors.
Abstract

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