Risk of hypertension into adulthood in persons born prematurely: a national cohort study

Young hearts, early risks: novel cardiovascular biomarkers in former very preterm infants at kindergarten age

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth is associated with long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In adults, fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), α-Klotho, and secretoneurin have all garnered attention as cardiovascular biomarkers, but their utility in pediatric populations has not yet been ascertained. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate these novel cardiovascular biomarkers and their association with indicators of cardiovascular impairment in the highly vulnerable population of former very preterm infants.

METHODS

Five- to seven-year-old children born at < 32 weeks' gestation were eligible for the study. Healthy same-aged children born at term served as controls. Biomarkers were quantified in fasting blood samples, and echocardiographic measurements including assessment of aortic elastic properties were obtained.

RESULTS

We included 26 former very preterm infants and 21 term-born children in the study. At kindergarten age, former very preterm infants exhibited significantly higher plasma concentrations of biologically active intact FGF-23 (iFGF-23; mean 43.2 pg/mL vs. 29.1 pg/mL, p = 0.003) and secretoneurin (median 93.8 pmol/L vs. 70.5 pmol/L, p = 0.046). iFGF-23 inversely correlated with distensibility of the descending aorta.

CONCLUSION

In preterm-born children, iFGF-23 and secretoneurin both offer prospects as valuable cardiovascular biomarkers, potentially allowing for risk stratification and timely implementation of preventive measures.

IMPACT

Former very preterm infants have increased plasma concentrations of the novel cardiovascular biomarkers intact fibroblast growth factor-23 (iFGF-23) and secretoneurin at kindergarten age. Increases in iFGF-23 concentrations are associated with decreased distensibility of the descending aorta even at this early age. Monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors is essential in individuals with a history of preterm birth. Both iFGF-23 and secretoneurin hold promise as clinically valuable biomarkers for risk stratification, enabling the implementation of early preventive measures.

Impact of sex, race, and social determinants of health on neonatal outcomes

Despite the global improvements in neonatal outcomes, mortality and morbidity rates among preterm infants are still unacceptably high. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly analyze the factors that affect these outcomes, including sex, race, and social determinants of health. By comprehending the influence of these factors, we can work towards reducing their impact and enhancing the quality of neonatal care. This review will summarize the available evidence on sex differences, racial differences, and social determinants of health related to neonates. This review will discuss sex differences in neonatal outcomes in part I and racial differences with social determinants of health in part II. Research has shown that sex differences begin to manifest in the early part of the pregnancy. Hence, we will explore this topic under two main categories: (1) Antenatal and (2) Postnatal sex differences. We will also discuss long-term outcome differences wherever the evidence is available. Multiple factors determine health outcomes during pregnancy and the newborn period. Apart from the genetic, biological, and sex-based differences that influence fetal and neonatal outcomes, racial and social factors influence the health and well-being of developing humans. Race categorizes humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally considered distinct within a given society. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. These factors can include a person's living conditions, access to healthy food, education, employment status, income level, and social support. Understanding these factors is essential in developing strategies to improve overall health outcomes in communities.

Body composition in adults born preterm with very low birth weight

BACKGROUND

Studies on body composition in preterm very low birth weight (VLBW < 1500 g) survivors are inconsistent and trajectories later in life unknown. We assessed body composition and its change from young to mid-adulthood in VLBW adults.

METHODS

We studied 137 VLBW adults and 158 term-born controls from two birth cohorts in Finland and Norway at mean age 36 years. Body composition was assessed by 8-polar bioelectrical impedance. We compared results with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements at 24 years.

RESULTS

In mid-adulthood, VLBW women and men were shorter than controls. Fat percentage (mean difference in women 1.1%; 95% CI, -1.5% to 3.5%, men 0.8%; -2.0% to 3.6%) and BMI were similar. VLBW women had 2.9 (0.9 to 4.8) kg and VLBW men 5.3 (2.7 to 8.1) kg lower lean body mass than controls, mostly attributable to shorter height. Between young and mid-adulthood, both groups gained fat and lean body mass (p for interaction VLBW x age>0.3).

CONCLUSION

Compared with term-born controls, VLBW adults had similar body fat percentage but lower lean body mass, largely explained by their shorter height. This could contribute to lower insulin sensitivity and muscular fitness previously found in VLBW survivors and predispose to functional limitations with increasing age.

IMPACT

In mid-adulthood, individuals born preterm with very low birth weight had similar body fat percentage but lower lean body mass than those born at term. This was largely explained by their shorter height. First study to report longitudinal assessments of body size and composition from young to mid-adulthood in very low birth weight adults. Lower lean body mass in very low birth weight adults could contribute to lower insulin sensitivity and muscular fitness and lead to earlier functional limitations with increasing age.

Birth History and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Youth With Significant Obesity

Children born prematurely have greater lifetime risk for hypertension. We aimed to determine (1) the association between prematurity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among 90 children with obesity and elevated blood pressure and (2) if dietary sodium intake modified these associations. Multivariable regression analysis explored for associations between prematurity (<37 weeks gestation; early gestational age) and low birth weight (<2.5 kg) with hypertension, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Effect modification by dietary sodium intake was also explored. Patients were predominately male (60%), black (78%), adolescents (13.3 years), and with substantial obesity (body mass index: 36.5 kg/m2). Early gestational age/low birth weight was not an independent predictor for hypertension, LVMI, or LVH. There was no effect modification by sodium load. Our results suggest the increased CVD risk conferred by prematurity is less significant at certain cardiometabolic profiles. Promoting heart-healthy lifestyles to prevent pediatric obesity remains of utmost importance to foster cardiovascular health.

2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and obesity) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose control, and metabolic syndrome) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The AHA Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, brain health, complications of pregnancy, kidney disease, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, sudden cardiac arrest, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular disease, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The AHA, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States and globally to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2024 AHA Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2023 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and AHA staff members. The AHA strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional global data, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Blood Pressure at Different Life Stages Over the Early Life Course and Intima-Media Thickness

Importance

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) begins in early life, the extent to which blood pressure (BP) at different life stages contributes to CVD is unclear.

Objective

To determine the relative contribution of BP at different life stages across the early-life course from infancy to young adulthood with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT).

Design, setting, and participants

The analyses were performed in 2022 using data gathered from July 1989 through January 2018 within the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project, a randomized, infancy-onset cohort of 534 participants coupled with annual BP (from age 7 months to 20 years), biennial IMT measurements (from ages 13 to 19 years), who were followed up with again at age 26 years.

Exposures

BP measured from infancy (aged 7 to 13 months), preschool (2 to 5 years), childhood (6 to 12 years), adolescence (13 to 17 years), and young adulthood (18 to 26 years).

Main outcomes and measures

Primary outcomes were carotid IMT measured in young adulthood at age 26 years. Bayesian relevant life-course exposure models assessed the relative contribution of BP at each life stage.

Results

Systolic BP at each life stage contributed to the association with young adulthood carotid IMT (infancy: relative weight, 25.3%; 95% credible interval [CrI], 3.6-45.8; preschool childhood: relative weight, 27.0%; 95% CrI, 3.3-57.1; childhood: relative weight, 18.0%; 95% CrI, 0.5-40.0; adolescence: relative weight, 13.5%; 95% CrI, 0.4-37.1; and young adulthood: relative weight, 16.2%; 95% CrI, 1.6-46.1). A 1-SD (at single life-stage) higher systolic BP accumulated across the life course was associated with a higher carotid IMT (0.02 mm; 95% CrI, 0.01-0.03). The findings for carotid IMT were replicated in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study that assessed systolic BP from childhood and carotid IMT in adulthood (33 to 45 years).

Conclusion and relevance

In this cohort study, a life-course approach indicated that accumulation of risk exposure to BP levels at all life stages contributed to adulthood carotid IMT. Of those, the contribution attributed to each observed life stage was approximately equal. These results support prevention efforts that achieve and maintain normal BP levels across the life course, starting in infancy.

Young adult outcomes following premature birth: A Western Australian experience

BACKGROUND

Childhood outcomes following preterm birth are widely published, however long-term adult outcomes are less well described. We aimed to determine the quality of life and burden of co-morbidities experienced by preterm-born young adults in Western Australia.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted. Participants born at 23-33 weeks gestation cared for at King Edward Memorial Hospital during 1990 and 1991 were recruited from a historical birth cohort. Participants completed general, medical and reproductive health questionnaires. Results were compared with contemporaneous cohort data and/or population statistics.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were received from 73 young adults aged 28 to 30 years. The majority of respondents completed high school (94.5 %), were employed fulltime (74.0 %) and had close friends and family relationships. Almost all the participants considered their health to be good (94.0 %) and participated in light exercise (90.0 %). Increased hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, asthma, neuropsychiatric conditions and visual impairment were reported. Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) scoring identified increased mild anxiety. Increased consultation with healthcare workers and use of prescription medications were reported.

CONCLUSION

The group of preterm-born adults surveyed reported a good quality of life, supportive interpersonal relationships and they provided significant contributions to society. They did report increased medical and psychological conditions than the general population.

Effect of preterm birth on growth and blood pressure in adulthood in the Pelotas 1993 cohort

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth has been associated with increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease later in adulthood, attributed to cardiovascular and metabolic alterations in early life. However, there is paucity of evidence from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

METHODS

We investigated the differences between preterm (<37 weeks gestational age) and term-born individuals in birth length and weight as well as adult (18 and 20 years) height, weight and blood pressure in the Brazilian 1993 Pelotas birth cohort using linear regressions. Analyses were adjusted for the maternal weight at the beginning of pregnancy and maternal education and family income at childbirth. Additional models were adjusted for body mass index (BMI) and birthweight. Separate analyses were run for males and females. The complete sample was analysed with an interaction term for sex.

RESULTS

Of the 3585 babies included at birth, 3010 were followed up in adulthood at 22 years. Preterm participants had lower length and weight at birth. This difference remained for male participants in adulthood, but female participants were no shorter than their term counterparts by 18 years of age. At 22 years, females born preterm had lower blood pressures (systolic blood pressure -1.00 mmHg, 95%CI -2.7, 0.7 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure -1.1 mmHg, 95%CI -2.4, 0.3 mmHg) than females born at term. These differences were not found in male participants.

CONCLUSIONS

In this Brazilian cohort we found contrasting results regarding the association of preterm birth with blood pressure in young adulthood, which may be unique to an LMIC.

Intrauterine life to adulthood: a potential risk factor for chronic kidney disease

Multiple risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD), one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the adult population globally, have been identified, including older age, male gender, family history, smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischaemic heart diseases and various medications. Preterm delivery, affecting >10% of the newborns in the USA, is a global concern with increasing incidence in recent decades. Preterm birth has been linked to multiple medical comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, while its association with CKD has recently been investigated. Prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) have been associated with an increased risk for CKD, specific histopathological examination findings and CKD-associated risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. In this narrative review, our aim is to evaluate and summarize the association between the risk for CKD and prematurity, low birthweight and IUGR along with potential underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Establishment of a model for predicting preterm birth based on the machine learning algorithm

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to construct a preterm birth prediction model based on electronic health records and to provide a reference for preterm birth prediction in the future.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional design. The risk factors for the outcomes of preterm birth were assessed by multifactor logistic regression analysis. In this study, a logical regression model, decision tree, Naive Bayes, support vector machine, and AdaBoost are used to construct the prediction model. Accuracy, recall, precision, F1 value, and receiver operating characteristic curve, were used to evaluate the prediction performance of the model, and the clinical application of the model was verified.

RESULTS

A total of 5411 participants were included and were used for model construction. AdaBoost model has the best prediction ability among the five models. The accuracy of the model for the prediction of "non-preterm birth" was the highest, reaching 100%, and that of "preterm birth" was 72.73%.

CONCLUSIONS

By constructing a preterm birth prediction model based on electronic health records, we believe that machine algorithms have great potential for preterm birth identification. However, more relevant studies are needed before its application in the clinic.

Preterm or early term birth and risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a national cohort and co-sibling study

PURPOSE

To examine risks of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preterm and early term birth survivors, and potential sex-specific differences.

METHODS

A national cohort study was conducted of all 4061,795 singletons born in Sweden in 1973-2013 who survived infancy, followed up for ADHD identified from nationwide diagnoses and medications through 2018. Poisson regression was used to compute prevalence ratios (PRs), adjusting for sociodemographic and perinatal factors. Co-sibling analyses assessed for confounding by unmeasured shared familial (genetic or environmental) factors.

RESULTS

ADHD prevalences by gestational age at birth were 12.1% for extremely preterm (22-27 weeks), 7.0% for moderately preterm (28-33 weeks), 5.7% for late preterm (34-36 weeks), 6.1% for all preterm (<37 weeks), 5.2% for early term (37-38 weeks), and 4.5% for full-term (39-41 weeks). Adjusted PRs comparing extremely preterm, all preterm, or early term versus full-term, respectively, were 2.35 (95% CI, 2.15-2.57), 1.28 (1.25-1.31), and 1.12 (1.10-1.13) among males, and 2.46 (2.17-2.78), 1.24 (1.20-1.28), and 1.08 (1.06-1.10) among females (P < .001 for each). These associations were virtually unchanged after controlling for shared familial factors. Both spontaneous and medically indicated preterm birth were associated with ADHD (adjusted PRs, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.18-1.24; and 1.39; 1.34-1.43, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort, preterm and early term birth were associated with increased risks of ADHD in males and females, independently of covariates and shared familial factors.

Prematurity and Low Birth Weight and Their Impact on Childhood Growth Patterns and the Risk of Long-Term Cardiovascular Sequelae

Preterm birth (before 37 completed weeks of gestation) is a global health problem, remaining the main reason for neonatal mortality and morbidity. Improvements in perinatal and neonatal care in recent decades have been associated with a higher survival rate of extremely preterm infants, leading to a higher risk of long-term sequelae in this population throughout life. Numerous surveillance programs for formerly premature infants continue to focus on neurodevelopmental disorders, while long-term assessment of the impact of preterm birth and low birth weight on child growth and the associated risk of cardiovascular disease in young adults is equally necessary. This review will discuss the influence of prematurity and low birth weight on childhood growth and cardiovascular risk in children, adolescents and young adults. The risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders is increased in adult preterm survivors. In early childhood, preterm infants may show elevated blood pressure, weakened vascular growth, augmented peripheral vascular resistance and cardiomyocyte remodeling. Increased weight gain during the early postnatal period may influence later body composition, promote obesity and impair cardiovascular results. These adverse metabolic alterations contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular incidents, adult hypertension and diabetes. Preterm-born children and those with fetal growth restriction (FGR) who demonstrate rapid changes in their weight percentile should remain under surveillance with blood pressure monitoring. A better understanding of lifelong health outcomes of preterm-born individuals is crucial for developing strategies to prevent cardiovascular sequelae and may be the basis for future research to provide effective interventions.

Consequences of Preterm Birth: Knowns, Unknowns, and Barriers to Advancing Cardiopulmonary Health

Preterm birth occurs in 10% of all live births and creates challenges to neonatal life, which persist into adulthood. Significant previous work has been undertaken to characterize and understand the respiratory and cardiovascular sequelae of preterm birth, which are present in adulthood, i.e., "late" outcomes. However, many gaps in knowledge are still present and there are several challenges that will make filling these gaps difficult. In this perspective we discuss the obstacles of studying adults born preterm, including (1) the need for invasive (direct) measures of physiologic function; (2) the need for multistate, multinational, and diverse cohorts; (3) lack of socialized medicine in the United States; (4) need for detailed and better-organized birth records; and (5) transfer of neonatal and pediatric knowledge to adult care physicians. We conclude with a discussion on the "future" of studying preterm birth in regards to what may happen to these individuals as they approach middle and older age and how the improvements in perinatal and postnatal care may be changing the phenotypes observed in adults born preterm on or after the year 2000.

A systematic review of prediction models for spontaneous preterm birth in singleton asymptomatic pregnant women with risk factors

Backgrounds

Spontaneous preterm birth (SPB) is a global problem. Early screening, identification, and prevention in asymptomatic pregnant women with risk factors for preterm birth can help reduce the incidence and mortality of preterm births. Therefore, this study systematically reviewed prediction models for spontaneous preterm birth, summarised the model characteristics, and appraised their quality to identify the best-performing prediction model for clinical decision-making.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine disc, VIP Database, and Wanfang Data were searched up to September 27, 2021. Prediction models for spontaneous preterm births in singleton asymptomatic pregnant women with risk factors were eligible for inclusion. Six independent reviewers selected the eligible studies and extracted data from the prediction models. The findings were summarised using descriptive statistics and visual plots.

Results

Twelve studies with twelve developmental models were included. Discriminative performance was reported in 11 studies, with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) ranging from 0.75 to 0.95. The AUCs of the seven models were greater than 0.85. Cervical length (CL) is the most commonly used predictor of spontaneous preterm birth. A total of 91.7% of the studies had a high risk of bias in the analysis domain, mainly because of the small sample size and lack of adjustment for overfitting.

Conclusion

The accuracy of the models for spontaneous preterm births in singleton asymptomatic women with risk factors was good. However, these models are not widely used in clinical practice because they lack replicability and transparency. Future studies should transparently report methodological details and consider more meaningful predictors with new progress in research on preterm birth.

Prematurely delivering mothers show reductions of lachnospiraceae in their gut microbiomes

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Despite evidence shows that imbalances in the maternal microbiome associates to the risk of preterm birth, the mechanisms underlying the association between a perturbed microbiota and preterm birth remain poorly understood.

METHOD

Applying shotgun metagenomic analysis on 80 gut microbiotas of 43 mothers, we analyzed the taxonomic composition and metabolic function in gut microbial communities between preterm and term mothers.

RESULTS

Gut microbiome of mothers delivering prematurely showed decreased alpha diversity and underwent significant reorganization, especially during pregnancy. SFCA-producing microbiomes, particularly species of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Eubacteriaceae, were significantly depleted in preterm mothers. Lachnospiraceae and its species were the main bacteria contributing to species' differences and metabolic pathways.

CONCLUSION

Gut microbiome of mothers delivering prematurely has altered and demonstrates the reduction of Lachnospiraceae.

Birth weight and subclinical cardiovascular and renal damage in a population-based study (the STANISLAS cohort study)

OBJECTIVE

Although preterm-born and low-birth-weight individuals have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, little is known regarding early cardiovascular and renal damage (CVRD) or hypertension in adulthood. Our study investigated the association of birth weight with early CVRD markers as well as the heritability of birth weight in an initially healthy family-based cohort.

METHODS

This study was based on 1028 individuals from the familial longitudinal STANISLAS cohort (399 parents/629 children) initiated in 1993-1995, with a fourth examination conducted in 2011-2016. Analyses performed at the fourth visit included pulse-wave velocity, central pressure, ambulatory blood pressure, hypertension status, diastolic dysfunction/distensibility, left ventricular mass indexed (LVMI), carotid intima-media thickness and kidney damage. The family structure of the cohort allowed birth weight heritability estimation.

RESULTS

Mean (±SD) birth weight was 3.3 ± 0.6 kg. Heritability was moderate (42-44%). At the fourth visit, individuals were 37 years old (32.0-57.0), 56% were women and 13% had antihypertensive treatment. Birth weight was strongly and negatively associated with hypertension [odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61 (0.45-0.84)]. A nonlinear association was found with LVMI, participants with a birth weight greater than 3 kg having a higher LVMI. A positive association ( β 95% CI 5.09 (1.8-8.38)] was also observed between birth weight and distensibility for adults with normal BMI. No associations were found with other CVRD.

CONCLUSION

In this middle-aged population, birth weight was strongly and negatively associated with hypertension, and positively associated with distensibility in adults with normal BMI and with LVMI for higher birth weights. No associations were found with other CVRD markers.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2023 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2022 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. The American Heart Association strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) publications, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

A test of differential susceptibility in behavior trajectories of preterm infants from preschool to adulthood

Preterm birth predisposes children to internalizing and externalizing behaviors that may persist into adolescence resulting in adult mental health conditions. Social and caregiving contexts, particularly for vulnerable infants born preterm, influence long-term outcomes, but mechanisms are not clearly understood. Healthcare teams caring for those born preterm face difficulty predicting who will be most affected by risk, who will most benefit, and the optimal timing of intervention. Differential susceptibility theory offers an alternative to the traditional risk-only assessments and theories by positing that individuals may be more, or less, susceptible to environmental influences. A sample of preterm- and term-born infants were followed from birth to 23 years of age. Mixed model repeated measures analyses of internalizing and externalizing behaviors were utilized for the comparison groups (N = 214; observations = 1070). Environmental contexts were indexed as proximal protection (low, moderate, high) and medical risk (low, moderate, high). Personal characteristic covariates of sex, race, socioeconomic status, and cognition were modeled. Internalizing behavior trajectories varied significantly over time. Early proximal protective environments conferred a sustained positive influence on behaviors. There is partial support for differential susceptibility theory suggesting that prematurity, as a malleability characteristic enables absorption of both the positive and negative influences of the environment, with greater intensity that those without malleability. The current analyses suggest lasting effects of the preschool age proximal environment on internalizing and externalizing behaviors in young adulthood for those born preterm. Understanding these nuances may aid healthcare professionals in the promotion and timing of interventions to support the child and family. The current manuscript reflects ongoing analyses of longitudinal data. No patient or public contribution to the analyses were required for testing the differential susceptibility theory. The authors would solicit patient or public contribution when implementing practice or policy changes based on the results.

Differing Impact of Preterm Birth on the Right and Left Atria in Adulthood

Background Preterm birth affects 10% of live births and is associated with an altered left ventricular and right ventricular phenotype and increased cardiovascular disease risk in young adulthood. Because left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) volume and function are known independent predictors of cardiovascular outcomes, we investigated whether these were altered in preterm-born young adults. Methods and Results Preterm-born (n=200) and term-born (n=266) adults aged 18 to 39 years underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. LA and RA maximal and minimal volumes (absolute, indexed to body surface area, and as a ratio to ventricular volumes) were obtained to study atrial morphology, while LA and RA stroke volume, strain, and strain rate were used to assess atrial function. Secondary analyses consisted of between-group comparisons based on degree of prematurity. Absolute RA volumes and RA volumes indexed to right ventricular volumes were significantly smaller in preterm-born compared with term-born adults. In addition, RA reservoir and booster strain were higher in preterm-born adults, possibly indicating functional compensation for the smaller RA volumes. LA volumes indexed to left ventricular volumes were significantly greater in preterm-born adults as compared with term-born adults, although absolute LA volumes were similar between groups. LA and RA changes were observed across gestational ages in the preterm group but were greatest in those born very-to-extremely preterm. Conclusions Preterm-born adults show changes in LA and RA structure and function, which may indicate subclinical cardiovascular disease. Further research into underlying mechanisms, opportunities for interventions, and their prognostic value is warranted.

Cardiovascular Morbidities in Adults Born Preterm: Getting to the Heart of the Matter!

Advances in perinatal and neonatal care have led to improved survival of preterm infants into adulthood. However, the shift in focus to long-term health in adults born preterm requires a clear understanding of the impact of prematurity on developing organ systems and the development of adult-oriented disease. A less well-recognized area of risk for surviving preterm infants is their cardiometabolic health. Epidemiologic evidence has linked preterm birth to the development of systemic hypertension, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease. Of more significant concern is that the risk of cardiometabolic disorders is higher in adults born preterm compared to full-term infants. The interconnected nature of the cardio-pulmonary system means worsening morbidity and mortality in adults born preterm. Addressing the problems of adults born preterm holistically would help promote cardiovascular health, wellness, and quality of life over their lifetime. Recognizing that adults born preterm are a unique subset of the population is a challenge in the current healthcare environment. Addressing issues relevant to adults born preterm in the clinically and research domain, using technology to characterize cardiopulmonary physiology and exercise tolerance, developing screening tools for early diagnosis and treatment, and robust follow-up of these infants with access to longitudinal data would improve both the quality and longevity of life in adults born preterm.

Reporting and risk of bias of prediction models based on machine learning methods in preterm birth: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

There was limited evidence on the quality of reporting and methodological quality of prediction models using machine learning methods in preterm birth. This systematic review aimed to assess the reporting quality and risk of bias of a machine learning-based prediction model in preterm birth.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic review, searching the PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine disk, VIP Database, and WanFang Data from inception to September 27, 2021. Studies that developed (validated) a prediction model using machine learning methods in preterm birth were included. We used the Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis Or Diagnosis (TRIPOD) statement and Prediction model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) to evaluate the reporting quality and the risk of bias of included studies, respectively. Findings were summarized using descriptive statistics and visual plots. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (no. CRD 42022301623).

RESULTS

Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria, with 24 development-only studies and 5 development-with-validation studies. Overall, TRIPOD adherence per study ranged from 17% to 79%, with a median adherence of 49%. The reporting of title, abstract, blinding of predictors, sample size justification, explanation of model, and model performance were mostly poor, with TRIPOD adherence ranging from 4% to 17%. For all included studies, 79% had a high overall risk of bias, and 21% had an unclear overall risk of bias. The analysis domain was most commonly rated as high risk of bias in included studies, mainly as a result of small effective sample size, selection of predictors based on univariable analysis, and lack of calibration evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

Reporting and methodological quality of machine learning-based prediction models in preterm birth were poor. It is urgent to improve the design, conduct, and reporting of such studies to boost the application of machine learning-based prediction models in preterm birth in clinical practice.

Adverse Maternal and Delivery Outcomes in Children and Very Young (Age ≤13 Years) US Adolescents Compared With Older Adolescents and Adults

This study uses a US claims database to compare morbidity and delivery outcomes among pregnant 10- to 13-year-olds vs 14- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 19-year-olds.

Perfused boundary region as biomarker for endothelial integrity in former preterms in adolescence

INTRODUCTION

Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) survivors have microvascular structural differences already described in kidney and retina, suggesting changes in endothelial integrity. A biomarker of endothelial integrity is perfused boundary region (PBR), which measures glycocalycal thickness. The endothelial glycocalyx is a complex, highly versatile structure with essential roles in vascular integrity and function. We explored PBR patterns together with other microvascular markers in healthy controls and former ELBW children.

METHODS

In the PREMATCH cohort (87 healthy controls, 93 ELBW survivors), we assessed endothelial integrity by calculating PBR (sidestream dark-field imaging), several microvascular markers (blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR_cysC)), and retinal imaging in early adolescence. We explored differences between both groups, and searched for perinatal determinants of PBR and correlations between different microvascular markers.

RESULTS

We provided reference values for PBR (average 1.90 µm, SD 0.30) in children. PBR was not different from ELBW survivors during early adolescence, despite their higher blood pressure, lower eGFR_cysC, and different retinal vessel width and tortuosity.

CONCLUSIONS

We generated reference values for PBR in early adolescence. Despite some correlations between microvascular parameters, there seem to be numerous confounders to propose PBR as a marker for endothelial integrity in ELBW survivors.

IMPACT

The endothelial glycocalyx is a complex and versatile structure. Changes in blood pressure and retinal and renal vascularization suggest a disturbance of its integrity in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) survivors. Its thickness can be measured by calculating perfused boundary region (PBR) using sidestream dark-field imaging, with a higher PBR indicating a thinner glycocalyx. We generated reference values for PBR in healthy adolescents. These values were not different in former ELBW children. Despite some correlations of PBR with other microvascular biomarkers, these are not strong enough to describe endothelial integrity and its covariates in former ELBW children.

Does vaginal progesterone prevent recurrent preterm birth in women with a singleton gestation and a history of spontaneous preterm birth? Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of vaginal progesterone to prevent recurrent preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcomes in singleton gestations with a history of spontaneous preterm birth.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, and CINAHL (from their inception to February 28, 2022), Cochrane databases, Google Scholar, bibliographies, and conference proceedings.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials that compared vaginal progesterone to placebo or no treatment in asymptomatic women with a singleton gestation and a history of spontaneous preterm birth.

METHODS

The primary outcomes were preterm birth <37 and <34 weeks of gestation. The secondary outcomes included adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Pooled relative risks with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. We assessed the risk of bias in the included studies, heterogeneity (I2 test), small-study effects, publication bias, and quality of evidence; performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses; and calculated 95% prediction intervals and adjusted relative risks.

RESULTS

Ten studies (2958 women) met the inclusion criteria: 7 with a sample size <150 (small studies) and 3 with a sample size >600 (large studies). Among the 7 small studies, 4 were at high risk of bias, 2 were at some concerns of bias, and only 1 was at low risk of bias. All the large studies were at low risk of bias. Vaginal progesterone significantly decreased the risk of preterm birth <37 weeks (relative risk, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.81; I2=75%; 95% prediction interval, 0.31-1.32; very low-quality evidence) and <34 weeks (relative risk, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.92; I2=66%; 95% prediction interval, 0.23-1.68; very low-quality evidence), and the risk of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (relative risk, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.85; I2=67%; 95% prediction interval, 0.16-1.79; low-quality evidence). There were no significant differences between the vaginal progesterone and the placebo or no treatment groups in other adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes. Subgroup analyses revealed that vaginal progesterone decreased the risk of preterm birth <37 weeks (relative risk, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.55; I2=0%) and <34 weeks (relative risk, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.49; I2=0%) in the small but not in the large studies (relative risk, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.09; I2=0% for preterm birth <37 weeks; and relative risk, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.13; I2=0% for preterm birth <34 weeks). Sensitivity analyses restricted to studies at low risk of bias indicated that vaginal progesterone did not reduce the risk of preterm birth <37 weeks (relative risk, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.09) and <34 weeks (relative risk, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-1.15). There was clear evidence of substantial small-study effects in the meta-analyses of preterm birth <37 and <34 weeks of gestation because of funnel plot asymmetry and the marked differences in the pooled relative risks obtained from fixed-effect and random-effects models. The adjustment for small-study effects resulted in a markedly reduced and nonsignificant effect of vaginal progesterone on preterm birth <37 weeks (relative risk, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-1.10) and <34 weeks (relative risk, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.60-1.42).

CONCLUSION

There is no convincing evidence supporting the use of vaginal progesterone to prevent recurrent preterm birth or to improve perinatal outcomes in singleton gestations with a history of spontaneous preterm birth.

Subclinical Changes in Left Heart Structure and Function at Preschool Age in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants

Background

Survivors of preterm birth are at risk of long-term cardiovascular consequences. The objective of this prospective observational study was to assess left heart function at preschool age in preterm children with very low birth weight (VLBW).

Methods

We recruited children aged 5–6 years from preterm infants and full-term children. All subjects underwent conventional echocardiography and speckle-tracking echocardiography. The results were compared between the preterm and term groups.

Results

Eighty-seven VLBW preterm children and 29 term controls were included in the study. After adjusting for body surface area, the preterm group compared to the full-term group had significantly smaller left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic and end-systolic internal dimensions (31.2 vs. 33.5 mm, p = 0.048; and 20.0 vs. 21.6 mm, respectively; p = 0.024), lower LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (38.8 vs. 46.3 mL, p = 0.024; and 12.8 vs. 15.6 mL, respectively; p = 0.008). Left atrial (LA) maximal and minimal volume were also significantly smaller in the preterm group (15.4 vs. 18.9 mL, p = 0.017; and 6.2 vs 7.5 mL, respectively; p = 0.018). LV global longitudinal strain (−21.4 vs. −23.2%, p < 0.0001) and systolic strain rate (−1.30 vs. −1.37 /s, p = 0.001) were significantly lower in the preterm group than in the term control group. LA longitudinal strain was decreased (43.9 vs. 52.8%, p < 0.0001) and left atrial stiffness index (0.17 vs. 0.14, p < 0.0001) was increased in preterm infants. However, all the measurements in both groups were within normal range.

Conclusions

Subclinical changes of left heart structure and function were found in VLBW infants at preschool age. Additional long-term follow-ups of the cardiovascular outcomes are needed in this vulnerable population.

Building and Realizing the Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Management Platform by Computer Information Technology under the Concept of Mindfulness Intervention

Nursing management of the gynecology department is one of the challenging issues and needed to be resolved through effective utilization of the available technology. In this paper, we are going to address this issue and try to establish an obstetrics and gynecology nursing management platform used to monitor and evaluate the mental health of pregnant women. Firstly, computer information technology is adopted, and the obstetrics and gynecology nursing management system is established. Secondly, after adopting the system to intervene in the mental state of patients with mindfulness, the system timely monitors the pregnant women's physical health indicators and mental health level data. With the help of the computer data analysis system, the obstetrics and gynecology management platform is built to carry out timely mindfulness interventions for pregnant women. The established system can reach high accuracy in identifying negative emotions of pregnant women, and the accuracy can reach 89.7%. It shows that the established system can timely and accurately intervene and regulate the pregnant woman's bad psychological state, effectively improve the pregnant woman's sleep quality during pregnancy, and enhance the pregnant woman's sleep effect. The effectiveness and feasibility of Internet mindfulness interventions for improving sleep quality during pregnancy has been confirmed. This has important practical significance for the digital and intelligent development of the medical care management platform.

The association between late preterm birth and cardiometabolic conditions across the life course: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The effect of being born late preterm (34-36 weeks gestation) on cardiometabolic outcomes across the life course is unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review the association between being born late preterm (spontaneous or indicated), compared to the term and cardiometabolic outcomes in children and adults.

DATA SOURCES

EMBASE(Ovid), MEDLINE(Ovid), CINAHL.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Observational studies up to July 2021 were included. Study characteristics, gestational age, cardiometabolic outcomes, risk ratios (RRs), odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios (HRs), mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted.

SYNTHESIS

We pooled converted RRs using random-effects meta-analyses for diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and body mass index (BMI) with subgroups for children and adults. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and certainty of the evidence was assessed using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) approach.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies were included (41,203,468 total participants; median: 5.0% late preterm). Late preterm birth was associated with increased diabetes (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.17, 1.32; nine studies; n = 6,056,511; incidence 0.9%; I² 51%; low certainty) and hypertension (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.13, 1.30; 11 studies; n = 3,983,141; incidence 3.4%; I² 64%; low certainty) in children and adults combined. Late preterm birth was associated with decreased BMI z-scores in children (standard mean difference -0.38; 95% CI -0.67, -0.09; five studies; n = 32,602; proportion late preterm 8.3%; I² 96%; very low certainty). There was insufficient evidence that late preterm birth was associated with increased IHD risk in adults (HR 1.20, 95% CI 0.89, 1.62; four studies; n = 2,706,806; incidence 0.3%; I² 87%; very low certainty).

CONCLUSIONS

Late preterm birth was associated with an increased risk of diabetes and hypertension. The certainty of the evidence was low or very low. Inconsistencies in late preterm and term definitions, confounding variables and outcome age limited the comparability of studies.

Physiological aspects of cardiopulmonary dysanapsis on exercise in adults born preterm

Progressive improvements in perinatal care and respiratory management of preterm infants have resulted in increased survival of newborns of extremely low gestational age over the past few decades. However, the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the chronic lung disease after preterm birth, has not changed. Studies of the long-term follow-up of adults born preterm have shown persistent abnormalities of respiratory, cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary function, possibly leading to a lower exercise capacity. The underlying causes of these abnormalities are incompletely known, but we hypothesize that dysanapsis, i.e. discordant growth and development, in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems is a central structural feature that leads to a lower exercise capacity in young adults born preterm than those born at term. We discuss how the hypothesized system dysanapsis underscores the observed respiratory, cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary limitations. Specifically, adults born preterm have: (1) normal lung volumes but smaller airways, which causes expiratory airflow limitation and abnormal respiratory mechanics but without impacts on pulmonary gas exchange efficiency; (2) normal total cardiac size but smaller cardiac chambers; and (3) in some cases, evidence of pulmonary hypertension, particularly during exercise, suggesting a reduced pulmonary vascular capacity despite reduced cardiac output. We speculate that these underlying developmental abnormalities may accelerate the normal age-associated decline in exercise capacity, via an accelerated decline in respiratory, cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary function. Finally, we suggest areas of future research, especially the need for longitudinal and interventional studies from infancy into adulthood to better understand how preterm birth alters exercise capacity across the lifespan.

Understanding the Preterm Human Heart: What do We Know So Far?

Globally, preterm birth affects more than one in every 10 live births. Although the short‐term cardiopulmonary complications of prematurity are well known, long‐term health effects are only now becoming apparent. Indeed, preterm birth has been associated with elevated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Experimental animal models and observational human studies point toward changes in heart morphology and function from birth to adulthood in people born preterm that may contribute to known long‐term risks. Moreover, recent data support the notion of a heterogeneous cardiac phenotype of prematurity, which is likely driven by various maternal, early, and late life factors. This review aims to describe the early fetal‐to‐neonatal transition in preterm birth, the different structural and functional changes of the preterm human heart across developmental stages, as well as potential factors contributing to the cardiac phenotype of prematurity.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2022 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2022 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population and an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, adverse pregnancy outcomes, vascular contributions to brain health, and the global burden of cardiovascular disease and healthy life expectancy.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Enteral Feeding Practices for Very Preterm and Very Low Birth Weight Infants in Nigeria and Kenya

Background

Optimizing nutrition in very preterm (28-32 weeks gestation) and very low birth weight (VLBW; 1,000 g to <1,500 g) infants has potential to improve their survival, growth, and long-term health outcomes.

Aim

To assess feeding practices in Nigeria and Kenya for very preterm and VLBW newborn infants.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study where convenience sampling was used. A standard questionnaire was sent to doctors working in neonatal units in Nigeria and Kenya.

Results

Of 50 respondents, 37 (74.0%) were from Nigeria and 13 (26.0%) from Kenya. All initiated enteral feeds with breastmilk, with 24 (48.0%) initiating within 24 h. Only 28 (56.0%) used written feeding guidelines. Starting volumes ranged between 10 and 80 ml/kg/day. Median volume advancement of feeds was 20 ml/kg/day (IQR 10-20) with infants reaching full feeds in 8 days (IQR 6-12). 26 (52.0%) of the units fed the infants 2 hourly. Breastmilk fortification was practiced in 7 (14.0%) units, while folate, iron, calcium, and phosphorus were prescribed in 42 (84.0%), 36 (72.0%), 22 (44.0%), 5 (10.0%) of these units, respectively. No unit had access to donor breastmilk, and only 18 (36.0%) had storage facilities for expressed breastmilk. Twelve (24.0%) used wet nurses whilst 30 (60.0%) used formula feeds.

Conclusion

Feeding practices for very preterm and VLBW infants vary widely within Nigeria and Kenya, likely because of lack of locally generated evidence. High quality research that informs the feeding of these infants in the context of limited human resources, technology, and consumables, is urgently needed.

Pre-term delivery and long-term risk of heart failure in women: a national cohort and co-sibling study

AIMS

Women who deliver pre-term have higher future risks of hypertension and ischaemic heart disease, but long-term risks of heart failure (HF) are unknown. We examined these risks in a large national cohort.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All 2 201 284 women with a singleton delivery in Sweden during 1973-2015 were followed up for inpatient or outpatient HF diagnoses through 2015. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) for HF associated with pregnancy duration, adjusting for other maternal factors. Co-sibling analyses assessed for confounding by shared familial (genetic and/or environmental) factors. In 48.2 million person-years of follow-up, 19 922 women were diagnosed with HF (median age: 60.7 years). Within 10 years after delivery, the adjusted HR was 2.96 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.48-3.53] for HF associated with pre-term (gestational age: <37 weeks) compared with full-term (39-41 weeks) delivery. Stratified HRs were 4.27 (2.54-7.17) for extremely pre-term (22-27 weeks), 3.39 (2.57-4.48) for moderately pre-term (28-33 weeks), 2.70 (2.19-3.32) for late pre-term (34-36 weeks), and 1.70 (1.45-1.98) for early term (37-38 weeks). These HRs declined but remained elevated at 10-19 years (pre-term vs. full term: HR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.94-2.46), 20-29 years (1.80; 1.67-1.95), and 30-43 years (1.56; 1.47-1.66) after delivery, and were not explained by shared familial factors.

CONCLUSION

Pre-term and early term delivery were associated with markedly increased future hazards for HF, which persisted after adjusting for other maternal and familial factors and remained elevated 40 years later. Pre-term and early-term delivery should be recognized as risk factors for HF across the life course.

KEY QUESTION

What are the long-term hazards for heart failure (HF) across the life course in women who deliver preterm?

KEY FINDING

Preterm and early term delivery were associated with ∼3- and 1.7-fold adjusted hazards for HF in the next 10 years vs. full-term delivery. These hazards declined but remained elevated 40 years later, and were not explained by shared familial factors.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Preterm and early term delivery were associated with increased future hazards for HF, which persisted for 40 years after adjusting for other maternal and familial factors. Preterm and early term delivery should be recognized as lifelong risk factors for HF.

Preterm Delivery and Long-term Risk of Hypertension in Women

Importance

Preterm delivery has been associated with future cardiometabolic disorders in women. However, the long-term risks of chronic hypertension associated with preterm delivery and whether such risks are attributable to familial confounding are unclear. Such knowledge is needed to improve long-term risk assessment, clinical monitoring, and cardiovascular prevention strategies in women.

Objective

To examine the long-term risks of chronic hypertension associated with preterm delivery in a large population-based cohort of women.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This national cohort study assessed all 2 195 989 women in Sweden with a singleton delivery from January 1, 1973, to December 31, 2015. Data analyses were conducted from March 8, 2021, to August 20, 2021.

Exposures

Pregnancy duration identified from nationwide birth records.

Main Outcomes and Measures

New-onset chronic hypertension identified from primary care, specialty outpatient, and inpatient diagnoses using administrative data. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) while adjusting for preeclampsia, other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and other maternal factors. Cosibling analyses were assessed for potential confounding by shared familial (genetic and/or environmental) factors.

Results

In 46.1 million person-years of follow-up, 351 189 of 2 195 989 women (16.0%) were diagnosed with hypertension (mean [SD] age, 55.4 [9.9] years). Within 10 years after delivery, the adjusted HR for hypertension associated with preterm delivery (gestational age <37 weeks) was 1.67 (95% CI, 1.61-1.74) and when further stratified was 2.23 (95% CI, 1.98-2.52) for extremely preterm (22-27 weeks of gestation), 1.85 (95% CI, 1.74-1.97) for moderately preterm (28-33 weeks of gestation), 1.55 (95% CI, 1.48-1.63) for late preterm (34-36 weeks of gestation), and 1.26 (95% CI, 1.22-1.30) for early-term (37-38 weeks of gestation) compared with full-term (39-41 weeks of gestation) delivery. These risks decreased but remained significantly elevated at 10 to 19 years (preterm vs full-term delivery: adjusted HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.36-1.44), 20 to 29 years (preterm vs full-term delivery: adjusted HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.18-1.23), and 30 to 43 years (preterm vs full-term delivery: adjusted HR, 95% CI, 1.12; 1.10-1.14) after delivery. These findings were not explained by shared determinants of preterm delivery and hypertension within families.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this large national cohort study, preterm delivery was associated with significantly higher future risks of chronic hypertension. These associations remained elevated at least 40 years later and were largely independent of other maternal and shared familial factors. Preterm delivery should be recognized as a lifelong risk factor for hypertension in women.

Birthweight and patterns of postnatal weight gain in very and extremely preterm babies in England and Wales, 2008-19: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Intrauterine and postnatal weight are widely regarded as biomarkers of fetal and neonatal wellbeing, but optimal weight gain following preterm birth is unknown. We aimed to describe changes over time in birthweight and postnatal weight gain in very and extremely preterm babies, in relation to major morbidity and healthy survival.

METHODS

In this cohort study, we used whole-population data from the UK National Neonatal Research Database for infants below 32 weeks gestation admitted to neonatal units in England and Wales between Jan 1, 2008, and Dec 31, 2019. We used non-linear Gaussian process to estimate monthly trends, and Bayesian multilevel regression to estimate unadjusted and adjusted coefficients. We evaluated birthweight; weight change from birth to 14 days; weight at 36 weeks postmenstrual age; associated Z scores; and longitudinal weights for babies surviving to 36 weeks postmenstrual age with and without major morbidities. We adjusted birthweight for antenatal, perinatal, and demographic variables. We additionally adjusted change in weight at 14 days and weight at 36 weeks postmenstrual age, and their Z scores, for postnatal variables.

FINDINGS

The cohort comprised 90 817 infants. Over the 12-year period, mean differences adjusted for antenatal, perinatal, demographic, and postnatal variables were 0 g (95% compatibility interval -7 to 7) for birthweight (-0·01 [-0·05 to 0·03] for change in associated Z score); 39 g (26 to 51) for change in weight from birth to 14 days (0·14 [0·08 to 0·19] for change in associated Z score); and 105 g (81 to 128) for weight at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (0·27 [0·21 to 0·33] for change in associated Z score). Greater weight at 36 weeks postmenstrual age was robust to additional adjustment for enteral nutritional intake. In babies surviving without major morbidity, weight velocity in all gestational age groups stabilised at around 34 weeks postmenstrual age at 16-25 g per day along parallel percentile lines.

INTERPRETATION

The birthweight of very and extremely preterm babies has remained stable over 12 years. Early postnatal weight loss has decreased, and subsequent weight gain has increased, but weight at 36 weeks postmenstrual age is consistently below birth percentile. In babies without major morbidity, weight velocity follows a consistent trajectory, offering opportunity to construct novel preterm growth curves despite lack of knowledge of optimal postnatal weight gain.

FUNDING

UK Medical Research Council.

Preterm or Early Term Birth and Risk of Autism

OBJECTIVES

Preterm birth has been linked with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, potential causality, sex-specific differences, and association with early term birth are unclear. We examined whether preterm and early term birth are associated with ASD in a large population-based cohort.

METHODS

A national cohort study was conducted of all 4 061 795 singleton infants born in Sweden during 1973-2013 who survived to age 1 year, who were followed-up for ASD identified from nationwide outpatient and inpatient diagnoses through 2015. Poisson regression was used to determine prevalence ratios for ASD associated with gestational age at birth, adjusting for confounders. Cosibling analyses were used to assess the influence of unmeasured shared familial (genetic and/or environmental) factors.

RESULTS

ASD prevalences by gestational age at birth were 6.1% for extremely preterm (22-27 weeks), 2.6% for very to moderate preterm (28-33 weeks), 1.9% for late preterm (34-36 weeks), 2.1% for all preterm (<37 weeks), 1.6% for early term (37-38 weeks), and 1.4% for term (39-41 weeks). The adjusted prevalence ratios comparing extremely preterm, all preterm, or early term versus term, respectively, were 3.72 (95% confidence interval, 3.27-4.23), 1.35 (1.30-1.40), and 1.11 (1.08-1.13) among boys and 4.19 (3.45-5.09), 1.53 (1.45-1.62), and 1.16 (1.12-1.20) among girls (P < .001 for each). These associations were only slightly attenuated after controlling for shared familial factors.

CONCLUSIONS

In this national cohort, preterm and early term birth were associated with increased risk of ASD in boys and girls. These associations were largely independent of covariates and shared familial factors, consistent with a potential causal relationship.

Effects of prematurity on long-term renal health: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the literature and determine if prematurity has an impact on long-term adverse kidney outcomes.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

DATA SOURCES

OVID Medline, PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL and EMBASE databases were searched for studies relating to the adverse outcomes of prematurity from 1990 to April 2021.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES

All articles published between January 1990 and April 2021 that investigated whether premature infants developed long-term adverse renal outcomes were included in this review. Articles must have been human studies and written in English. Case series with less than 20 participants and case studies were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

One reviewer completed the database searches. Article selection was performed independently and in a non-blinded manner by both reviewers. Initial screening was by title and abstract. Full texts of remaining articles were reviewed. Articles for which inclusion was unclear were re-reviewed by both reviewers, and a unanimous decision was taken as to whether they should be included. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment of the included articles.

RESULTS

The literature search yielded 31 human studies, which investigated the short-term and long-term kidney outcomes of prematurity. These studies were conducted in 17 different countries. The most common outcomes measured were blood pressure (BP) and glomerular filtration rate. Other common outcomes measured included kidney size and mass, proteinuria, albuminuria, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and physical parameters such as height, weight and body mass index.

CONCLUSION

Prematurity is likely linked to increased risk of kidney dysfunction and high BP in childhood and into early adulthood. Premature birth conferred a twofold increased risk of CKD and extremely premature birth conferred a threefold increased risk of CKD. However, further larger multicentre studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions on the long-term kidney outcomes of prematurity.

Effects of an exclusive human-milk diet in preterm neonates on early vascular aging risk factors (NEOVASC): study protocol for a multicentric, prospective, randomized, controlled, open, and parallel group clinical trial

Background

Preterm birth accounts for approximately 11% of all livebirths globally. Due to improvements in perinatal care, more than 95% of these infants now survive into adulthood. Research has indicated a robust association between prematurity and increased cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular mortality. While the innate adverse effects of prematurity on these outcomes have been demonstrated, therapeutic strategies on the mitigation of these concerning developments are lacking. The primary objective of the NEOVASC clinical trial is therefore to investigate whether the administration of a prolonged exclusive human-milk diet in preterm infants is capable of alleviating the harmful effects of preterm birth on the early development of cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods

The NEOVASC study is a multicentric, prospective, randomized, controlled, open, and parallel group clinical trial conducted in four Austrian tertiary neonatal care facilities. The purpose of the present trial is to investigate the effects of a prolonged exclusive human-milk-diet devoid of bovine-milk-based food components on cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors at 1, 2, and 5 years of corrected age. Primary outcomes include assessments of fasting blood glucose levels, blood pressure levels, and the distensibility of the descending aorta using validated echocardiographic protocols at 5 years of corrected age. The test group, which consists of 200 preterm infants, will therefore be compared to a control group of 100 term-born infants and a historical control group recruited previously.

Discussion

Given the emerging implications of an increased cardiovascular risk profile in the potentially growing population of preterm infants, further research on the mitigation of long-term morbidities in formerly preterm infants is urgently warranted. Further optimizing preterm infants’ nutrition by removing bovine-milk-based food components may therefore be an interesting approach worth pursuing.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT04413994. Registered on 4 June 2020.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-021-05445-9.

Association of Preterm Birth With Long-term Risk of Heart Failure Into Adulthood

IMPORTANCE

Preterm birth has been associated with increased risk of heart failure (HF) early in life, but its association with new-onset HF in adulthood appears to be unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether preterm birth is associated with increased risk of HF from childhood into mid-adulthood in a large population-based cohort.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This national cohort study was conducted in Sweden with data from 1973 through 2015. All singleton live births in Sweden during 1973 through 2014 were included.

EXPOSURES

Gestational age at birth, identified from nationwide birth records.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Heart failure, as identified from inpatient and outpatient diagnoses through 2015. Cox regression was used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) for HF associated with gestational age at birth while adjusting for other perinatal and maternal factors. Cosibling analyses assessed for potential confounding by unmeasured shared familial (genetic and/or environmental) factors.

RESULTS

A total of 4 193 069 individuals were included (maximum age, 43 years; median age, 22.5 years). In 85.0 million person-years of follow-up, 4158 persons (0.1%) were identified as having HF (median [interquartile range] age, 15.4 [28.0] years at diagnosis). Preterm birth (gestational age <37 weeks) was associated with increased risk of HF at ages younger than 1 year (adjusted HR [aHR], 4.49 [95% CI, 3.86-5.22]), 1 to 17 years (aHR, 3.42 [95% CI, 2.75-4.27]), and 18 to 43 years (aHR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.19-1.71]) compared with full-term birth (gestational age, 39-41 weeks). At ages 18 through 43 years, the HRs further stratified by gestational age were 4.72 (95% CI, 2.11-10.52) for extremely preterm births (22-27 weeks), 1.93 (95% CI, 1.37-2.71) for moderately preterm births (28-33 weeks), 1.24 (95% CI, 1.00-1.54) for late preterm births (34-36 weeks), and 1.09 (95% CI, 0.97-1.24) for early term births (37-38 weeks). The corresponding HF incidence rates (per 100 000 person-years) at ages 18 through 43 years were 31.7, 13.8, 8.7, and 7.3, respectively, compared with 6.6 for full-term births. These associations persisted when excluding persons with structural congenital cardiac anomalies. The associations at ages 18 through 43 years (but not <18 years) appeared to be largely explained by shared determinants of preterm birth and HF within families. Preterm birth accounted for a similar number of HF cases among male and female individuals.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this large national cohort, preterm birth was associated with increased risk of new-onset HF into adulthood. Survivors of preterm birth may need long-term clinical follow-up into adulthood for risk reduction and monitoring for HF.

Stroke Risks in Adult Survivors of Preterm Birth: National Cohort and Cosibling Study

[Figure: see text].

Preterm birth and cardiac function in adulthood

Preterm birth affects 1 in 10 pregnancies worldwide, with increasing survival rates over the last 30 years. However, as this new generation of long-term survivors approaches middle age, recent studies have revealed increased cardiovascular risk factors and higher rates of ischaemic heart disease and heart failure. Cardiovascular imaging has identified smaller cardiac chamber size, changes in myocardial mass and impaired ventricular function, particularly under physiological stress. Accordingly, this population should be recognised as having a higher risk of heart failure as they age. In this review, we present current evidence for increased rates of heart failure and evidence of alterations in cardiac structure and function in those born preterm. We discuss potential mechanisms to explain this risk including greater frequency of co-morbidities known to be associated with heart failure. We also explore potential mechanistic links specific to the preterm-born population, including the impact of premature birth on myocardial and vascular development and the effects of perinatal haemodynamic changes and chronic lung disease on the developing heart. We highlight gaps in our knowledge and consider implications for patient management relevant to the adult physician.

Preconception ambient temperature and preterm birth: a time-series study in rural Henan, China

Changes in the preconception ambient temperature (PAT) can affect the gametogenesis, disturbing the development of the embryo, but the health risks of PAT on the developing fetus are still unclear. Here, based on the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project in the rural areas of Henan Province, we evaluate the effects of PAT on preterm birth (PTB). Data of 1,231,715 records from self-reported interviews, preconception physical examination, early gestation follow-up, and postpartum follow-up were collected from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2016. Generalized additive models were used to assess the cumulative and lag effects of PAT upon PTB. The significant cumulative effects of mean temperature within 2 weeks and 3 weeks on the risk of PTB, especially upon late PTB (34-36 weeks) (P < 0.05), were observed. Exposure to extreme heat (> 90th percentile) within 2 weeks (RR = 1.470) and 3 weeks (RR = 1.375) before conception could increase the risk of PTB. After stratifying PTB, exposure to extreme heat within 2 weeks before conception can increase the risks of early (< 34 weeks) and late PTB (P < 0.05). Besides, exposure to extreme cold (< 10th percentile) within 3 weeks or longer before conception can elevate the risk of PTB, especially late PTB. The significant lag effects of temperature changes on the risk of early PTB (lag-8 days or earlier) were observed. In conclusion, the risk of PTB was susceptible to PAT changes within 2 weeks or longer before conception. Our findings provide (i) guidance for rural couples to make pregnancy plans and (ii) scientific evidence for the government to formulate policies to prevent PTB.

Improving the quality of neonatal acute kidney injury care: neonatal-specific response to the 22nd Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) conference

With the adoption of standardized neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI) definitions over the past decade and the concomitant surge in research studies, the epidemiology of and risk factors for neonatal AKI have become much better understood. Thus, there is now a need to focus on strategies designed to improve AKI care processes with the goal of reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with neonatal AKI. The 22nd Acute Dialysis/Disease Quality Improvement (ADQI) report provides a framework for such quality improvement in adults at risk for AKI and its sequelae. While many of the concepts can be translated to neonates, there are a number of specific nuances which differ in neonatal AKI care. A group of experts in pediatric nephrology and neonatology came together to provide neonatal-specific responses to each of the 22nd ADQI consensus statements.

Pre-Term Delivery and Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease in Women

BACKGROUND

Women who deliver pre-term have been reported to have increased future risks of cardiometabolic disorders. However, their long-term risks of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and whether such risks are due to shared familial factors are unclear. A better understanding of these risks may help improve long-term clinical follow-up and interventions to prevent IHD in women.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term risks of IHD in women by pregnancy duration.

METHODS

A national cohort study was conducted of all 2,189,190 women with a singleton delivery in Sweden from 1973 to 2015, who were followed up for IHD through the end of 2015. Cox regression was used to compute adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for IHD associated with pregnancy duration, and cosibling analyses assessed the influence of shared familial (genetic and/or environmental) factors.

RESULTS

In 47.5 million person-years of follow-up, 49,955 (2.3%) women were diagnosed with IHD. In the 10 years following delivery, the aHR for IHD associated with pre-term delivery (<37 weeks) was 2.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.16 to 2.82), and further stratified was 4.04 (95% CI: 2.69 to 6.08) for extremely pre-term (22 to 27 weeks), 2.62 (95% CI: 2.09 to 3.29) for very pre-term (28 to 33 weeks), 2.30 (95% CI: 1.97 to 2.70) for late pre-term (34 to 36 weeks), and 1.47 (95% CI: 1.30 to 1.65) for early-term (37 to 38 weeks), compared with full-term (39 to 41 weeks). These risks declined but remained significantly elevated after additional follow-up (pre-term vs. full-term, 10 to 19 years: aHR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.73 to 1.99; 20 to 29 years: aHR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.45 to 1.59; 30 to 43 years: aHR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.32 to 1.45). These findings did not appear attributable to shared genetic or environmental factors within families. Additional pre-term deliveries were associated with further increases in risk.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large national cohort, pre-term delivery was a strong independent risk factor for IHD. This association waned over time but remained substantially elevated up to 40 years later. Pre-term delivery should be recognized as a risk factor for IHD in women across the life course.

Adrenal Steroid Metabolism and Blood Pressure in 5- to 7-Year-Old Children Born Preterm as Compared to Peers Born at Term

Background: Previous studies indicated preterm birth to be a risk factor for hypertension in adolescence and adulthood. However, studies in children investigating the underlying mechanisms are scarce. Objective: We hypothesized children born preterm to have higher excretion of cortisol and/or androgen metabolites per day concomitantly with higher blood pressure as compared to peers born at term. We thus aimed to compare urinary steroid profiles and blood pressure between 5- to 7-year-old children born preterm and peers born at term. Furthermore, aldosterone precursor excretion per day was compared between both groups. Methods: Blood pressure was measured in 236 children (preterms n = 116; gestational age 29.8 ± 2.6 (30; 24-33) weeks [mean ± standard deviation (median; range)]) using an automatic oscillometric device. Urinary steroid profiles were determined in 24-h urine samples (preterms n = 109; terms n = 113) using gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis. To assess excretion of cortisol and androgen metabolites per day, major cortisol and androgen metabolites were summed, respectively. To assess aldosterone excretion per day tetrahydrocorticosterone, 5α-tetrahydrocorticosterone, and tetrahydro-11-deydrocorticosterone were summed. Results: Multiple regression analyses showed prematurity to be associated with systolic but not with diastolic blood pressure. When adjusted for potential confounders (prematurity, gender, age at day of examination, being born small for gestational age, breastfeeding, accelerated weight gain during infancy, family history of cardiovascular disease, parental hypertension, and body mass index) prematurity was shown to be associated with an increase in systolic blood pressure by 2.87 mmHg (95% confidence interval 0.48-5.27; p = 0.02). Cortisol, androgen metabolite, and aldosterone precursor excretion per day were not higher in individuals born preterm. In contrast to our hypothesis, multiple regression analysis showed prematurity to independently decrease cortisol and aldosterone precursor excretion per day (p < 0.001 and 0.04, respectively). Conclusion: This study provides further evidence for systolic blood pressure to be higher after preterm birth as early as at the age of 5 to 7 years. However, this seems not to be explained by elevated excretion of cortisol and/or androgen metabolites.

An overview of adult health outcomes after preterm birth

Preterm birth (gestational age < 37 completed weeks) has increased in prevalence in most countries in the past 20 years and now affects nearly 11% of all births worldwide. Because of treatment advances introduced in the 1970s-1980s, >95% of preterm infants who receive modern neonatal and pediatric care now survive into adulthood. The earliest birth cohorts to benefit from those advances are now in their 4th and 5th decades of life. A growing number of large cohort studies have investigated the long-term health sequelae in adulthood. Evidence has consistently shown that adult survivors of preterm birth have increased risks of chronic disorders involving various organ systems, including cardiovascular, endocrine/metabolic, respiratory, renal, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric disorders, which either persist from childhood into adulthood or sometimes first manifest in adulthood. These disorders also lead to moderately (30% to 50%) increased mortality risks during early to mid-adulthood among persons born preterm compared with full-term, and even higher risks among those born at the earliest gestational ages. However, the majority of persons born preterm have low absolute risks of these outcomes and good self-reported quality of life in adulthood. Priorities for future research include the assessment of long-term health sequelae of preterm birth in racially and economically diverse populations, additional follow-up of existing cohorts into older adulthood, elucidation of outcomes by preterm birth subtype (e.g., different underlying causes) to improve risk stratification, and identification of protective factors that will support the long-term health trajectory and well-being of preterm-born adults.

Preterm birth and neonatal acute kidney injury: implications on adolescent and adult outcomes

As a result of preterm birth, immature kidneys are exposed to interventions in the NICU that promote survival, but are nephrotoxic. Furthermore, the duration of renal development may be truncated in these vulnerable neonates. Immaturity and nephrotoxic exposures predispose preterm newborns to acute kidney injury (AKI), particularly in the low birth weight and extremely preterm gestational age groups. Several studies have associated preterm birth as a risk factor for future chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, only a few publications have investigated the impact of neonatal AKI on CKD development. Here, we will review the evidence linking preterm birth and AKI in the NICU to CKD and highlight the knowledge gaps and opportunities for future research. For neonatal intensive care studies, we propose the inclusion of AKI as an important short-term morbidity outcome and CKD findings such as a reduced glomerular filtration rate in the assessment of long-term outcomes.