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HAPI Fit: An Exercise Intervention to Improve Peak Aerobic Capacity in Young Adults Born Very Preterm
Camille Bastien Tardif, Marie-Eve Mathieu, Maxime Caru
1Research Center, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, CANADA.
Insights
Adults born preterm can improve cardiorespiratory fitness with exercise training. This study found similar aerobic capacity gains in preterm and full-term women after a 14-week program.
Area of Science:
- Exercise physiology
- Neonatal health
- Cardiorespiratory fitness
Background:
- Individuals born preterm often exhibit reduced aerobic capacity due to impaired organ development.
- The potential for exercise training to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in this population remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a supervised exercise intervention in enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness in adults born preterm.
- To compare the adaptive response to exercise between preterm and full-term individuals.
Main Methods:
- A 14-week supervised exercise program including cardiovascular, resistance, and flexibility training was administered to 58 adults (21 very preterm, 37 full-term).
- Peak oxygen consumption (peak V̇O 2) was measured pre- and post-intervention.
- Adherence and compliance were recorded, with analyses focused on female participants due to limited male adherence.
Main Results:
- Both preterm and full-term groups demonstrated significant improvements in peak V̇O 2 post-intervention (P < 0.01 for both).
- No significant difference in the magnitude of cardiorespiratory fitness improvement was observed between the preterm and full-term groups (P = 0.729).
- Adherence rates were comparable between groups, though overall recruitment and retention presented challenges.
Conclusions:
- Supervised exercise interventions can improve cardiorespiratory fitness in young women born preterm.
- Challenges in recruitment and adherence necessitate adaptations for broader program uptake.
- The findings suggest that adults born preterm can benefit from exercise training similarly to their full-term peers.
Introduction:
Individuals born preterm have reduced aerobic capacity, which could be related to impaired organ development. Their capacity to improve aerobic capacity with exercise training could therefore be limited, but this remains unknown. We aimed to test an exercise intervention to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in adults born preterm.
Methods:
Twenty-one very preterm and 37 full-term individuals aged 18-33 yr took part in a 14-wk supervised exercise intervention of cardiovascular, resistance, and flexibility training (two group and one individual sessions per week). Adherence and compliance to intervention were recorded. Primary outcome was change in peak oxygen consumption (peak V̇O 2 ) measured before and after the intervention. Within- and between-group differences were estimated using nonparametric tests.
Results:
Of 219 eligible individuals, 58 were enrolled and 14 participants dropped out over the course of the intervention. Among the 44 who completed the intervention, mean adherence was 82% and 66% for group and individual sessions, respectively. Compliance with training requirement varied between 71% and 100%. There was no difference in adherence between the preterm and full-term groups. Because only one preterm male met the adherence criteria, subsequent analyses were done exclusively on females. Both the term and preterm groups achieved higher peak V̇O 2 after the intervention [term = +4.2 (SD 4.3) mL·min -1 ·kg -1 , P < 0.01; preterm = +4.7 (2.9) mL·min -1 ·kg -1 , P < 0.01]. There was no between-group difference in the response to the intervention ( P = 0.729).
Conclusions:
Recruitment and adherence to an exercise intervention are challenging. Results could indicate improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness in young women born preterm after current exercise program. Adaptation of this intervention is needed for wider uptake.
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