The metabolic costs 30 years after preterm birth

Abstract

The “developmental origins of adult disease” is a well-accepted hypothesis, linking early exposures to various disease states. However, whether prematurity itself contributes to metabolic and cardiovascular disease in adulthood is unknown. One limitation has been the lack of data from a population-based, prospective study of these infants as adults. Fortuitously, in 1986, every VLBW neonate born in New Zealand and admitted to a neonatal unit was prospectively enrolled in an audit of retinopathy of prematurity. In this volume of The Journal, Darlow et al report the physical wellbeing of 229 of these infants at ~30-year follow-up. These data are important. A majority of the measures of physical wellbeing and metabolic health were not different between former VLBW and term controls. However, although differences in metabolic syndrome were not statistically different between VLBW and control, some disturbing trends were noted. Logistic regression demonstrated a significant relationship between extremely preterm (<28 wks) birth and metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, a full 22% of former male VLBW infants met criteria for metabolic syndrome, compared with 11% of controls. It remains to be determined if that difference did not reach significance due to sample size. Regardless, these data demonstrate the need to continue to follow these high-risk neonates through adulthood so that we may better understand the long-term implications of preterm birth, and provide the proper screening and preventive measures to this unique population. Article page 128 ▶ Metabolic Syndrome in Very Low Birth Weight Young Adults and Controls: The New Zealand 1986 VLBW StudyThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 206PreviewTo assess the physical well-being and components of the metabolic syndrome in a national cohort of very low birth weight (VLBW) young adults and same age controls. Full-Text PDF