Objective:
Studies support a causal association between preterm birth and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Increased left and right ventricular mass and impaired systolic and diastolic function has been reported in young adults born preterm. However, the impact of extreme preterm birth and prematurity-specific complications on adult cardiac structure and function has not been evaluated. We assessed cardiac structure and function in young adults born extremely preterm (EPT) versus term, and correlated long term cardiac remodeling with neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
Methods:
Eighty five EPT (gest. age = 27.1±1.4 weeks) were recruited along with term-born controls matched for age, sex and socioeconomic status. Birth and neonatal data (gestational age, birth weight, BPD indicated by O
2
requirements at 36 weeks postmenstrual age) was collected. Ambulatory blood pressure (Spacelabs) and echocardiographic measurements (Phillips) were taken. Comparisons were performed using ANOVA or T-test.
Results:
EPT presented with increased systolic (119±9 vs 116±8 mmHg, P<0.05) and diastolic (68±5 vs 66±6 mmHg, P<0.05) blood pressures. EPT exhibited reduced septal thickness (IVS, 6.8±0.8 vs 7.1±1.1 mm, P<0.05), left ventricular internal dimension (LVID, 46±4 vs 48±5 mm, P<0.05), LV end-diastolic (98±20 vs 106±24 ml, P<0.05) and end-systolic (36±9 vs 40±11 ml, P<0.01) volumes, right ventricular internal dimension (RVID, 22±3 vs 24±4 mm, P<0.05), and LV mass (104±27 vs 115±30 g, P<0.05), but similar LV mass and volume indexes. EPT exhibited increased LV myocardial performance index (0.41±0.04 vs 0.39±0.04, P<0.01), reduced mitral lateral e’ (17.6±2.8 vs 19.1±2.6 cm/s, P<0.01), mitral s’ (10.7±2.3 vs 11.6±2.3 cm/s, P<0.01), tricuspid E’ (15.8±2.7 vs 16.8±2.1 cm/s, P<0.05), and tricuspid S’ (13.1±2.0 vs 14.0±2.0 cm/s, P<0.01) waves, and a trend in reduced mitral E wave (81±14 vs 85±15 cm/s, P=0.09). EPT with neonatal BPD exhibited greater reduction in IVS (6.5±0.8 mm, P<0.05 vs terms), LVID (45±4 mm, P<0.05), LV Mass (98±22 g, P<0.05), and RVID (20±3 mm, P<0.01).
Conclusions:
EPT exhibit cardiac structural and functional alterations compared to term-born individuals. Neonatal BPD in EPT is a key contributor to long term cardiac remodeling.
Preservation of Post-Infarction Cardiac Structure and Function via Long-Term Oral Formyl Peptide Receptor Agonist Treatment
