Understanding if preterm birth affects heart development and ability to exercise in adults

Myocardial characterisation of the preterm heart in adult life and impacts on exercise capacity: young adult cardiovascular health trial

Professor Paul Leeson and colleagues from the University of Oxford will spend three years characterising the potential effects of premature birth on the long-term health of the heart and circulatory function. Nearly 10% of deliveries worldwide (12.9 million births per year) are preterm. Premature birth (babies born before 37 weeks of gestation) coincides with a critical time in the development of the baby’s heart and circulatory system, which may have consequences into adult life. Professor Leeson’s group has previously shown that the size and function of the heart is different (is larger and has reduced function) in individuals born prematurely compared with those who are not, which may put them at risk of developing heart disease. They will now follow these individuals (102 of them in their late 20s or early 30s) to see if the heart changes continue to occur over time, focussing on their exercise ability. Sophisticated imaging studies will be a key part of the group’s work, to help identify any structural differences in the heart that may explain its reduced function. A greater understanding of the mechanisms behind the changes that occur in these individuals into their adult life will help to prevent future disease through targeted early prevention.