Prematurity and cardiovascular risk at early adulthood

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Theories of early stress and allostatic load link early life stressors to adult health.
• Prematurity and neonatal illness can impact endocrine and metabolic systems, influencing long-term health.
• This study investigates cardiovascular and metabolic risks in adults who were preterm infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare cardiovascular and metabolic risks at age 23 between healthy preterm (HPT), sick preterm (SPT), and term-born (FT) individuals.
• To identify early indicators of adult health risks associated with prematurity and neonatal illness.
• To assess the utility of clinical and subclinical ranges in identifying early cardiovascular risk.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 215 infants (45 FT, 24 HPT, 111 SPT) was followed to age 23 (84% participation).
• Cardiovascular outcomes measured included blood pressure (BP), weight, waist-hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index (BMI).
• Metabolic outcomes included fasting glucose and lipid profiles, compared across neonatal groups and by gender.

Main Results:

• HPT and SPT groups exhibited higher systolic BP than the FT group at age 23.
• The SPT group had lower weight compared to FT and HPT groups.
• Preterm males showed increased systolic hypertension and lower high-density lipids; both preterm males and females had high WHR and BMI.

Conclusions:

• Young adults with a history of prematurity (HPT and SPT) display early signs of cardiovascular risk.
• No significant metabolic risks were identified in young adults based on prematurity status.
• Utilizing clinical and subclinical ranges effectively identifies early cardiovascular risk in young adulthood.