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Predicting physical activity in a national cohort of children born extremely preterm
Mette Engan1, Merete Salveson Engeseth2, Silje Fevang3
1Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Norway; Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Insights
Children born extremely preterm or with extremely low birthweight (EP/ELBW) show reduced physical activity. Early motor, behavioral, and intellectual issues at age five predict lower physical activity in EP/ELBW children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Children born extremely preterm or with extremely low birthweight (EP/ELBW) face long-term health challenges.
- Physical activity is crucial for child development and overall health.
- Understanding physical activity patterns in EP/ELBW children is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare physical activity levels in school-aged children born EP/ELBW versus term-born controls.
- To identify early predictors of physical inactivity in EP/ELBW children.
Main Methods:
- A national cohort study included children born EP/ELBW (gestational age <28 weeks or birthweight <1000g) and term-born controls.
- Neurodevelopmental assessments (MABC, SDQ, WPPSI-R) were conducted at five years.
- Parental questionnaires at 11 years collected data on physical activity (PA).
Main Results:
- EP/ELBW children exhibited lower weekly exercise events, less team sport engagement, reduced endurance, and lower sports proficiency compared to term-born children.
- In healthy EP/ELBW children, poor sports proficiency at 11 years was associated with abnormal motor (MABC) and behavioral (SDQ) scores at five years.
- Lower endurance during PA was predicted by abnormal MABC, abnormal SDQ, and borderline intellectual functioning at five years.
Conclusions:
- Eleven-year-old EP/ELBW children are less physically active than their term-born peers.
- Impaired motor coordination, borderline intellectual functioning, and behavioral problems at age five predict unfavorable physical activity habits in EP/ELBW children at age 11.
Abstract:
Predicting physical activity in a national cohort of children born extremely preterm.
Objectives:
To compare physical activity among school-aged children born extremely preterm or with extremely low birthweight (EP/ELBW) to term-born children, and to identify early predictors for physical inactivity in the EP/ELBW-children.
Methods:
A national cohort born during 1999-2000 at gestational age < 28 weeks or birthweight <1000 g and term-born controls were assessed. EP/ELBW-children without neurodevelopmental disabilities were labeled "healthy". At five years, we examined the EP/ELBW-children's motor, mental and intellectual functioning using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-revised. At 11 years, the parents reported their children's physical activity (PA) in questionnaires.
Results:
Information was obtained from 231/372 EP/ELBW and 57/61 term-born children. At 11 years, EP/ELBW-children had fewer exercise events per week, were less engaged in team sports, had lower endurance, lower sports proficiency, and were less vigorous during PA than term-born children (p < 0.05). Low sports proficiency in the healthy EP/ELBW-children at 11 years was predicted (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval) by abnormal MABC-score (3.0; 1.0 to 8.7), and abnormal SDQ-score (4.0; 1.6 to 10.0) at 5 years. Lower endurance at PA was predicted by abnormal MABC-score (2.6; 1.0 to 6.6), abnormal SDQ-score (3.0; 1.4 to 6.5), and borderline intellectual functioning (4.2; 1.8 to 10.1).
Conclusions:
Eleven-year-old EP/ELBW-children were less physically active than term-born. In healthy EP/ELBW-children, impaired motor coordination, borderline intellectual functioning and behavioral problems at 5 years of age predicted unfavorable PA habits at 11 years.
