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Ventilatory Efficiency in Children and Adolescents Born Extremely Preterm
Julie Hestnes1, Hedda Hoel1, Ole J Risa1
1Department of Clinical Science, University of BergenBergen, Norway.
Frontiers in Physiology
|July 29, 2017
Summary
Children born extremely preterm (EP) have poorer ventilatory efficiency during exercise, breathing more to produce carbon dioxide. Their breathing patterns were similar to term-born individuals when lung function was considered.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Exercise Physiology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Extremely preterm (EP) born individuals often exhibit reduced lung function.
- Lower aerobic capacity is frequently observed in EP-born populations compared to term-born peers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if ventilatory efficiency and breathing patterns during exercise differ between EP-born and term-born individuals.
- To test the hypothesis of poorer ventilatory efficiency and altered breathing patterns in EP-born subjects.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of two EP cohorts (born 1982-85 and 1991-92) with individually matched term-born controls during incremental treadmill exercise.
- Analysis of ventilatory efficiency using the relationship between exhaled minute ventilation (VE) and carbon dioxide output (VCO2).
- Assessment of breathing patterns, including tidal volume (VT) and VE, with multivariate regression adjusting for covariates like FEV1.
Main Results:
- EP-born individuals demonstrated a significantly steeper VE-VCO2 relationship, indicating lower ventilatory efficiency.
- No significant group differences in breathing patterns were found when adjusted for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).
- Breathing patterns were primarily associated with FEV1, not the birth group (EP vs. term).
Conclusions:
- Extremely preterm birth is associated with reduced ventilatory efficiency during exercise.
- Higher ventilation relative to carbon dioxide output in EP-born individuals may contribute to their lower aerobic capacity.
- Observed breathing patterns in EP-born individuals are comparable to term-born peers once lung function (FEV1) is accounted for.
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