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Physical Activity Profile of School-Aged Children Born Very Preterm and Its Association With Sleep

Maham Hassan1,2, Saskia Koller1, Annkathrin Gies1

  • 1Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|May 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Children born very preterm show varied sleep and physical activity patterns. Higher sleep efficiency in these children correlated with less total physical activity and lower odds of meeting moderate-to-vigorous activity recommendations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Preterm birth, especially very preterm birth (<32 weeks gestation), can impact neurodevelopment and behavior.
  • Sleep and physical activity are crucial for healthy development in school-aged children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between physical activity and sleep parameters in school-aged children born very preterm.
  • To identify potential differences in sleep and activity based on gestational age at birth.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of 235 children (6-10 years old) born <32 weeks gestation.
  • Data collected via actigraphy for sleep/activity, medical records, questionnaires, and anthropometry.
  • Gestational age, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Children born <28 weeks gestation showed higher total physical activity than those born at 28-32 weeks.
  • Increased sleep efficiency was associated with decreased total physical activity (β = -0.14).
  • Higher sleep efficiency correlated with 37% lower odds of achieving recommended MVPA levels (OR = 0.63).

Conclusions:

  • Significant associations exist between sleep efficiency and physical activity in very preterm children.
  • Gestational age influences activity levels, suggesting tailored interventions may be needed.
  • Further research is warranted to understand and address these sleep and activity behaviors.
Abstract

Keywords:
actigraphyactivity levelspreterm birthsleep

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