Higher Metabolic Dysfunction in Adolescents Who Were Born Very Preterm: Case Control Study

Introduction: Literature has shown an increase in cardiovascular risk and metabolic changes in adolescents and young adults who were born preterm. In this regard, the present study aimed to assess metabolic dysfunction in adolescents who were born at less than 32 weeks of gestational age. Methods:...

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Main Authors: Joana de Brito Chagas, Isabel Dinis, Bárbara Oliveiros, Gabriela Mimoso, Sofia Morais
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Publicaciones Permanyer 2023-03-01
Series:Portuguese Journal of Pediatrics
Online Access:https://ojs.pjp.spp.pt/article/view/26191
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author Joana de Brito Chagas
Isabel Dinis
Bárbara Oliveiros
Gabriela Mimoso
Sofia Morais
author_facet Joana de Brito Chagas
Isabel Dinis
Bárbara Oliveiros
Gabriela Mimoso
Sofia Morais
author_sort Joana de Brito Chagas
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Literature has shown an increase in cardiovascular risk and metabolic changes in adolescents and young adults who were born preterm. In this regard, the present study aimed to assess metabolic dysfunction in adolescents who were born at less than 32 weeks of gestational age. Methods: This case-control study was performed on adolescents within the age range of 10-17 years and born in a level III maternity, with gestational age of < 32 weeks. Controls were healthy adolescents with gestational age of ≥ 37 weeks. Demographic data, cardiovascular risk history, and clinical data were evaluated and blood tests were performed. Results: In total, 110 preterm and 48 controls were enrolled in the study. Based on the results, mean systolic (118.8 vs 112.6 mmHg, p = 0.001) and diastolic (61.7 vs 58.5 mmHg, p = 0.014) blood pressures were statistically higher in preterm infants, compared to the controls. The preterm adolescents had a higher waist-to-height ratio, fat mass, fasting blood glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein B100, compared to the controls. However, none of these differences were statistically significant. It was found that preterm adolescents had more metabolic dysfunction risk factors, compared to the controls (p = 0.007). Discussion: Prematurity contributes to higher cardiovascular risk and metabolic dysfunction. Moreover, higher arterial blood pressure seems to be the most important clinical finding in this study. Close monitoring of risk factors, particularly blood pressure, in adolescents who were born at less than 32 weeks is important for the prevention and early diagnosis of metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities in adulthood.
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spelling doaj.art-5e085704c1b3427c92d63e2ebddb68302024-08-03T02:07:10ZengPublicaciones PermanyerPortuguese Journal of Pediatrics2184-33332184-44532023-03-0154210.25754/pjp.2023.26191Higher Metabolic Dysfunction in Adolescents Who Were Born Very Preterm: Case Control StudyJoana de Brito Chagas0Isabel Dinis1Bárbara Oliveiros2Gabriela Mimoso3Sofia Morais4Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Maternidade Bissaya Barreto, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalPediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Growth Unit, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalLaboratory for Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Maternidade Bissaya Barreto, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, PortugalNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Maternidade Bissaya Barreto, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalIntroduction: Literature has shown an increase in cardiovascular risk and metabolic changes in adolescents and young adults who were born preterm. In this regard, the present study aimed to assess metabolic dysfunction in adolescents who were born at less than 32 weeks of gestational age. Methods: This case-control study was performed on adolescents within the age range of 10-17 years and born in a level III maternity, with gestational age of < 32 weeks. Controls were healthy adolescents with gestational age of ≥ 37 weeks. Demographic data, cardiovascular risk history, and clinical data were evaluated and blood tests were performed. Results: In total, 110 preterm and 48 controls were enrolled in the study. Based on the results, mean systolic (118.8 vs 112.6 mmHg, p = 0.001) and diastolic (61.7 vs 58.5 mmHg, p = 0.014) blood pressures were statistically higher in preterm infants, compared to the controls. The preterm adolescents had a higher waist-to-height ratio, fat mass, fasting blood glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein B100, compared to the controls. However, none of these differences were statistically significant. It was found that preterm adolescents had more metabolic dysfunction risk factors, compared to the controls (p = 0.007). Discussion: Prematurity contributes to higher cardiovascular risk and metabolic dysfunction. Moreover, higher arterial blood pressure seems to be the most important clinical finding in this study. Close monitoring of risk factors, particularly blood pressure, in adolescents who were born at less than 32 weeks is important for the prevention and early diagnosis of metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities in adulthood. https://ojs.pjp.spp.pt/article/view/26191
spellingShingle Joana de Brito Chagas
Isabel Dinis
Bárbara Oliveiros
Gabriela Mimoso
Sofia Morais
Higher Metabolic Dysfunction in Adolescents Who Were Born Very Preterm: Case Control Study
Portuguese Journal of Pediatrics
title Higher Metabolic Dysfunction in Adolescents Who Were Born Very Preterm: Case Control Study
title_full Higher Metabolic Dysfunction in Adolescents Who Were Born Very Preterm: Case Control Study
title_fullStr Higher Metabolic Dysfunction in Adolescents Who Were Born Very Preterm: Case Control Study
title_full_unstemmed Higher Metabolic Dysfunction in Adolescents Who Were Born Very Preterm: Case Control Study
title_short Higher Metabolic Dysfunction in Adolescents Who Were Born Very Preterm: Case Control Study
title_sort higher metabolic dysfunction in adolescents who were born very preterm case control study
url https://ojs.pjp.spp.pt/article/view/26191
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AT gabrielamimoso highermetabolicdysfunctioninadolescentswhowerebornverypretermcasecontrolstudy
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