Abstract
Purpose: The long-term implications of premature birth on autonomic nervous system (ANS) function are unclear. Heart rate recovery (HRR) following maximal exercise is a simple tool to evaluate ANS function and is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease. Our objective was to determine whether HRR is impaired in young adults born preterm (PYA). Methods: Individuals born between 1989 and 1991 were recruited from the Newborn Lung Project, a prospectively followed cohort of subjects born preterm weighing < 1500 g with an average gestational age of 28 weeks. Age-matched term-born controls were recruited from the local population. HRR was measured for 2 min following maximal exercise testing on an upright cycle ergometer in normoxia and hypoxia, and maximal aerobic capacity (VO 2max ) was measured. Results: Preterms had lower VO 2max than controls (34.88 ± 5.24 v 46.15 ± 10.21 ml/kg/min, respectively, p < 0.05), and exhibited slower HRR compared to controls after 1 and 2 min of recovery in normoxia (absolute drop of 20 ± 4 v 31 ± 10 and 41 ± 7 v 54 ± 11 beats per minute (bpm), respectively, p < 0.01) and hypoxia (19 ± 5 v 26 ± 8 and 39 ± 7 v 49 ± 13 bpm, respectively, p < 0.05). After adjusting for VO 2max , HRR remained slower in preterms at 1 and 2 min of recovery in normoxia (21 ± 2 v 30 ± 2 and 42 ± 3 v 52 ± 3 bpm, respectively, p < 0.05), but not hypoxia (19 ± 3 v 25 ± 2 and 40 ± 4 v 47 ± 3 bpm, respectively, p > 0.05). Conclusions: Autonomic dysfunction as seen in this study has been associated with increased rates of cardiovascular disease in non-preterm populations, suggesting further study of the mechanisms of autonomic dysfunction after preterm birth.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 857-866 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | European Journal of Applied Physiology |
Volume | 119 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 9 2019 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Autonomic dysfunction
- Autonomic function
- Cardiovascular disease
- Exercise testing
- Heart rate recovery
- Maximal aerobic capacity
- Premature birth
- Prematurity
- Preterm birth
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Physiology (medical)