Should we assess cardiovascular risk in young adults born preterm?

Area of Science:

• Neonatal development
• Cardiovascular health
• Metabolic disorders

Background:

• Preterm birth affects 11% of infants globally, leading to postnatal development outside the uterus.
• Prenatal and postnatal environments significantly impact long-term child health.
• Previous research links very low birth weight preterm birth to elevated cardiometabolic risk factors in adulthood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent findings on cardiometabolic risk factors in adults born preterm.
• To explore the impact of late preterm birth (34-36 weeks) on adult health outcomes.
• To identify modifiable risk factors and potential interventions for preterm infants.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature on preterm birth and cardiometabolic health.
• Analysis of studies including individuals born late preterm.
• Synthesis of data on various cardiometabolic risk factors.

Main Results:

• Adults born preterm exhibit elevated cardiometabolic risk factors, including issues with body size, energy metabolism, blood pressure, vascular structure, and glucose/lipid metabolism.
• Late preterm infants (70% of preterm births) are increasingly included in studies, revealing similar risk elevations.
• Emerging cardiometabolic risk factors are also noted in this population.

Conclusions:

• Cardiometabolic risks associated with preterm birth are largely modifiable.
• Optimizing early-life nutrition and growth for preterm infants may reduce later cardiometabolic disorders.
• Screening for risk factors and promoting healthy lifestyles are crucial for adults born preterm.