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Physical Fitness in Young Adults Born Preterm
Marjaana Tikanmäki1, Tuija Tammelin2, Marika Sipola-Leppänen3
1Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Oulu and Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Health Sciences and marjaana.tikanmaki@thl.fi.
Insights
Young adults born early preterm (EPT) and late preterm (LPT) exhibit reduced muscular fitness compared to term-born peers. This may increase their risk for chronic diseases, with EPT adults also reporting lower self-rated fitness.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Young adults born preterm face elevated cardiometabolic risks compared to term-born individuals.
- Muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness are crucial for cardiometabolic health and overall well-being.
- This study investigates fitness levels in young adults born preterm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and compare muscular, cardiorespiratory, and self-rated fitness in young adults born early preterm (EPT), late preterm (LPT), and at term.
- To identify potential long-term health implications of preterm birth on physical fitness.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 139 EPT (<34 weeks), 247 LPT (34-36 weeks), and 352 term-born young adults (age ~23.3 years) from the ESTER study were analyzed.
- Muscular fitness was evaluated using modified push-ups and handgrip strength.
- Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed via a step test, alongside self-rated fitness questionnaires.
Main Results:
- EPT and LPT individuals performed fewer modified push-ups and EPT individuals had lower handgrip strength than controls.
- Cardiorespiratory fitness, measured by the step test, was comparable across groups.
- EPT adults reported lower self-rated fitness scores compared to term-born controls.
Conclusions:
- Young adults born EPT and LPT demonstrate diminished muscular fitness, potentially increasing their susceptibility to cardiometabolic and chronic diseases.
- Preterm birth may impact self-perception of fitness, as observed in EPT adults.
- These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and supporting the long-term health of preterm-born individuals.
Background:
Young adults born preterm have higher levels of cardiometabolic risk factors than their term-born peers. Muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness have important cardiometabolic and other health benefits. We assessed muscular, cardiorespiratory, and self-rated fitness in preterm-born young adults.
Methods:
We studied unimpaired participants of the ESTER (Ennenaikainen syntymä ja aikuisiän terveys [Preterm Birth and Early-Life Programming of Adult Health and Disease]) birth cohort study at age 23.3 (SD: 1.2) years: 139 born early preterm (EPT; <34 weeks), 247 late preterm (LPT; 34-36 weeks), and 352 at term (control group). We measured muscular fitness with the number of modified push-ups performed in 40 seconds and maximal handgrip strength of the dominant hand, cardiovascular fitness with heart rate at the end of a 4-minute step test, and self-rated fitness. Data were analyzed with linear regression.
Results:
Young adults born EPT (-0.8; 95% confidence interval: -1.5 to -0.1; adjusted for gender, age, and source cohort) and LPT (-0.8; -1.4 to -0.3) performed fewer modified push-ups than controls. Handgrip strength was 23.8 (0.9-46.8) N lower in EPT participants. Cardiorespiratory fitness, measured by submaximal step test, was similar. On a self-rated fitness scale (1-5), the EPT adults reported 0.2 (0.0-0.4) lower scores than controls. After adjustment for early-life confounders, the results remained. They attenuated after further adjustment for mediating factors.
Conclusions:
Young adults born EPT and LPT had lower muscular fitness than controls, which may predispose them to cardiometabolic and other chronic diseases. Adults born EPT also perceived themselves as less fit than controls.
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