IJE Advance Access published online on April 27, 2007
International Journal of Epidemiology, doi:10.1093/ije/dym067
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cardiovascular risk factors at age 30 following pre-term birth
1Clinical Trials Research Unit, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
2Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
*Corresponding author. Liggins Institute, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. E-mail: harding{at}auckland.ac.nz
 |
Abstract |
|---|
Background Recent epidemiological evidence has shown increased rates of cardiovascular mortality and associated risk factors in those born small. However, scarce information exists concerning cardiovascular risk factors in adulthood following pre-term birth, or distinguishing the relative contributions of length of gestation and fetal growth to small size at birth.
Methods Prospective follow-up of 458 30-year-olds whose mothers took part in a randomized controlled trial of antenatal betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (147 born at term, 311 born pre-term). Follow-up assessments included anthropometry, blood pressure, blood lipids, early morning cortisol levels and 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.
Results Gestational age at birth, pre-term birth, and birth weight z-score were not associated with serum cholesterol, triglyceride or cortisol at age 30 (P > 0.1 for all). However, pre-term birth was associated with increased systolic blood pressure (3.5 mmHg, 95% CI 0.9–6.1 mmHg, P = 0.009) and insulin resistance at age 30 [Log (Insulin area under the curve) = 0.17, 95% CI 0.05–0.28, P = 0.006]. Low gestational age at birth was also associated with these outcomes, whereas birth weight, adjusted for gestational age, was not.
Conclusions Adults who were born moderately pre-term have increased blood pressure and insulin resistance at 30 years of age. Pre-term birth rather than poor fetal growth is the major determinant of this association. As both the incidence of pre-term birth and survival amongst those born pre-term are increasing, this group may contribute an increasing proportion to overall cardiovascular disease burden.
Keywords Pre-term birth, birth weight, developmental origins of adult disease, cardiovascular risk, long-term follow-up
Accepted 13 March 2007
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  L. Gubhaju, M. R. Sutherland, B. A. Yoder, A. Zulli, J. F. Bertram, and M. J. Black Is nephrogenesis affected by preterm birth? Studies in a non-human primate model Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, December 1, 2009; 297(6): F1668 - F1677. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 O M Peltoniemi, M A Kari, A Lano, A Yliherva, R Puosi, L Lehtonen, O Tammela, M Hallman, and for the Repeat Antenatal Betamethasone (RepeatBM) Two-year follow-up of a randomised trial with repeated antenatal betamethasone Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., November 1, 2009; 94(6): F402 - F406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Pyhala, K. Raikkonen, K. Feldt, S. Andersson, P. Hovi, J. G. Eriksson, A.-L. Jarvenpaa, and E. Kajantie Blood Pressure Responses to Psychosocial Stress in Young Adults With Very Low Birth Weight: Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults Pediatrics, February 1, 2009; 123(2): 731 - 734. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Cooper, K. Atherton, and C. Power Gestational age and risk factors for cardiovascular disease: evidence from the 1958 British birth cohort followed to mid-life Int. J. Epidemiol., February 1, 2009; 38(1): 235 - 244. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Mardones, L. Villarroel, L. Karzulovic, S. Barja, P. Arnaiz, M. Taibo, and F. Mardones-Restat Association of perinatal factors and obesity in 6- to 8-year-old Chilean children Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2008; 37(4): 902 - 910. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Kajantie, P. Hovi, K. Raikkonen, A.-K. Pesonen, K. Heinonen, A.-L. Jarvenpaa, J. G Eriksson, S. Strang-Karlsson, and S. Andersson Young Adults With Very Low Birth Weight: Leaving the Parental Home and Sexual Relationships--Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults Pediatrics, July 1, 2008; 122(1): e62 - e72. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|