RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Aerobic capacity in adults born extremely preterm
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P1229
VO 42
IS Suppl 57
A1 Hege Clemm
A1 Maria Vollsæter
A1 Ola Røksund
A1 Thomas Halvorsen
YR 2013
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1229.abstract
AB INTRODUCTION Large cohorts of subjects born extremely preterm have begun to reach adulthood. Preterm birth has been associated with markers of later cardiovascular disease. Physical activity (PA) may alleviate some of these risk factors; however in extreme preterms PA has been described to be reduced, as has also aerobic capacity. We aimed to address these issues in a population based cohort of extremely preterm born adults.METHODS Subjects born extremely preterm in Western Norway in 1982-1985 and matched control subjects born at term were followed longitudinally with standardized maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests at 18 and 25 years of age. Their medical history and leisure-time physical activity were reported in standardized questionnaires.RESULTS At 25 years of age 34 (67%) surviving eligible preterms and 33 control subjects were successfully studied with results as follows: PeakVO2 (ml/kg/min) 40.7 vs. 44.2 (p=0.046), PeakVO2 (L/min) 2.9 vs. 3.2; p=0.009, distance completed (meters) 910 vs. 1020 (p=0.032). Differences were mainly explained by the males, while data for females were relatively similar; however, tests of interaction were not significant (p=0.231). Findings at 25 years of age basically reflected those observed at 18. Leisure-time physical activity was similarly and positively associated with exercise capacity in in both groups, although stronger at 18 than 25.CONCLUSION Exercise capacity was slightly reduced in adults born extremely preterm, differences mainly explained by males. Their response to physical activity seemed to be as in term-borns, opening for PA as an effective health promoting measure in this vulnerable group.