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Adults born preterm have lower peripheral skeletal muscle area and strength
Alyson Deprez1,2, Ramy El-Jalbout1, Anik Cloutier1
1Research Center, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada.
Insights
Adults born preterm exhibit reduced muscle strength and smaller muscle size compared to full-term controls. These findings suggest long-term skeletal muscle alterations following preterm birth, impacting overall health.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Developmental Biology
- Musculoskeletal Health
Background:
- Prematurity impacts multiple organ systems, potentially affecting long-term functional capacity.
- Exercise capacity depends on integrated cardiovascular, pulmonary, and skeletal muscle function.
- Previous animal studies suggest muscle atrophy in adulthood following prematurity-associated conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare skeletal muscle composition and strength in adults born preterm versus full-term controls.
- To investigate the association between prematurity and adult muscle morphology and function.
- To assess the influence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia on muscle characteristics in preterm-born adults.
Main Methods:
- Observational cohort study of 55 preterm-born adults (≤29 weeks gestation) and 53 full-term controls.
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging of the rectus femoris during rest and maximal voluntary contraction.
- Manual dynamometry to measure maximal voluntary contraction of hands and legs.
Main Results:
- Adults born preterm had significantly lower muscle strength (handgrip, knee extensor) and smaller muscle area compared to controls.
- Increased muscle stiffness was observed in the preterm group.
- These deficits were more pronounced in preterm individuals with a history of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Conclusions:
- Prematurity is linked to lasting alterations in skeletal muscle composition, size, and function in adulthood.
- These findings underscore the need for interventions to support muscle development and function in individuals born preterm.
- Optimizing muscle health post-preterm birth is crucial for enhancing long-term well-being.
Abstract:
Prematurity is associated with lower exercise capacity, which relies on the integrity of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and skeletal muscle systems. Our animal model mimicking prematurity-associated conditions showed altered muscle composition and atrophy in adulthood. This study aimed to compare muscle composition and strength in adults born preterm versus full-term controls. This observational cohort study recruited 55 adults born preterm, ≤ 29 weeks' of gestation and 53 full-term controls who underwent musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging to assess morphology of the rectus femoris at rest and during a maximal voluntary contraction. Maximal voluntary contraction of the hands and legs were measured by manual dynamometry. In adults born preterm, there was lower muscle strength (handgrip: - 4.8 kg, 95% CI - 9.1, - 0.6; knee extensor: - 44.6 N/m, 95% CI - 63.4, - 25.8) and smaller muscle area (- 130 mm2, 95% CI - 207, - 53), which was more pronounced with a history of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Muscle stiffness was increased in the preterm versus term group (0.4 m/s, 95% CI 0.04, 0.7). Prematurity is associated with alterations in skeletal muscle composition, area, and function in adulthood. These findings highlight the necessity to implement preventive and/or curative approaches to improve muscle development and function following preterm birth to enhance overall health in this population.
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