Abstract
Background:
Young adults born preterm have higher levels of cardio metabolic risk factors and they report less physical activity than their peers born at term. Physical activity provides important cardio metabolic health benefits. We hypothesized that objectively measured physical activity levels are lower and time spent sedentary is higher among preterm-born individuals compared with controls.
Methods:
We studied unimpaired participants of the ESTER birth cohort study at age 23.3 y (SD: 1.2): 60 born early preterm (<34 wk), 108 late preterm (34–36 wk), and 178 at term (controls). Physical activity and sedentary time were measured by hip-worn accelerometer (ActiGraph).
Results:
As compared with controls’ (mean physical activity, 303 counts per minute (cpm; SD 129)), physical activity was similar among adults born early preterm (mean difference = 21 cpm, 95% CI −61, 19) or late preterm (5 cpm, −27, 38). Time spent sedentary was also similar. Adjustments for early life confounders or current mediating characteristics did not change the results.
Conclusion:
In contrast to our hypothesis, we found no difference in objectively measured physical activity or time spent sedentary between adults born preterm and at term. The previously reported differences may be limited to physical activity captured by self-report.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to all the participants for their contribution in the ESTER Study. We also thank research nurses Katriina Inget, Sinikka Kursu, Hanna-Maria Matinolli, Liisa Saarikoski, Marjatta Takala, Sarianna Vaara, data manager Sigrid Rosten, research assistants Risto Karvonen, Petteri Koivurova, Antti Koskela, Sanna Mustaniemi, Heli-Kaisa Saarenpää, and Marja Vanhatalo from the National Institute of Health and Welfare, Oulu and Helsinki, Finland, as well as statistician Anna Kankaanpää from LIKES Research Center for Physical Activity and Health, Jyväskylä, Finland.
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Tikanmäki, M., Tammelin, T., Kaseva, N. et al. Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in young adults born preterm—The ESTER study. Pediatr Res 81, 550–555 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2016.262
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2016.262
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