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Published on: March 7, 2019
The Effect of Preterm Birth on Physical Activity for 9- to 12-Year-Old Children
Kate L Cameron1, Cassidy Du Berry2, Maria Angel3
1Prematurity Research Group, Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Insights
Children born very preterm (VPT) were more sedentary and had lower physical activity (PA) scores. Both VPT and moderate-late preterm (MLPT) groups spent more time on screens, highlighting the need for early interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Preterm birth affects long-term child development and health outcomes.
- Physical activity (PA) is crucial for children's well-being and development.
- Sedentary behaviors and screen time are growing concerns in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of preterm birth on physical activity (PA) in school-aged children (9-12 years).
- To compare PA levels and sedentary behaviors between children born very preterm (VPT), moderate-late preterm (MLPT), and term.
- To examine differences in the relationships between PA, lung function, and respiratory morbidity across these groups.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 343 children (91 VPT, 139 MLPT, 117 term) aged 9-12 years completed follow-up.
- Physical activity was objectively measured using 7-day accelerometry.
- Subjective PA and sedentary behavior were assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C).
Main Results:
- Children born VPT exhibited significantly more stationary time and screen time, alongside lower PAQ-C scores compared to term-born children.
- Children born MLPT also showed increased screen time compared to term-born peers.
- None of the children met the recommended 60 minutes/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, averaging only 16.6 minutes.
Conclusions:
- Very preterm birth is associated with increased sedentary behavior and reduced physical activity levels in children.
- Both VPT and MLPT groups demonstrated higher screen time, suggesting a need for targeted interventions.
- Universal failure to meet PA guidelines underscores the importance of early strategies to reduce sedentary behavior and promote physical activity in all children.
Objectives:
To investigate the effect of preterm birth on physical activity (PA) in 9- to 12-year-old children, and to describe group differences in relationships between PA and lung function, and PA and respiratory morbidity, between children born preterm and term.
Study Design:
A total of 343 children completed follow-up including children born very preterm (VPT; <30 weeks of gestation, n = 91), moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT; 32-36 weeks of gestation, n = 139), and term (n = 113). PA was measured using 7-day accelerometry and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Imputation models were used to handle missing data as the total sample recruited at birth included 551 participants.
Results:
Children born VPT had more stationary (mean difference (MD): 32 minutes, 95% CI 4, 60; P = .024) and screen time (MD: 25 minutes, 95% CI 0.2, 50; P = .048), and had lower PAQ-C scores (MD: -0.3, 95% CI -0.4, -0.1; P = .001) than term-born children. Children born MLPT completed more screen time (MD: 22 minutes, 95% CI 1, 43; P = .038) than term-born children. All children failed to meet moderate-vigorous PA recommendations (≥60 minutes/day), with 16.6 minutes on average observed across all participants.
Conclusions:
Children born VPT were more sedentary with lower PAQ-C scores, and both preterm groups (VPT and MLPT) had higher screen time than children born at term. No children met moderate-vigorous PA guidelines, indicating early, targeted strategies to curb sedentary behavior and promote activity should be prioritized.
