Adults born preterm at very low birth weight entering middle age: a follow-up of the Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults and the NTNU Low Birth Weight in a Lifetime Perspective birth cohort studies
Health and well-being in adults born preterm with very low birth weight or at term, small for gestational age.
The study involves a clinical follow-up at age 32-42 years with objective measurements of physical activity (for seven days), fitness, body composition, respiratory, motor and visual function, and questionnaires for measuring mental health and quality of life. The study is performed during 1 or 2 visits, which together take approximately 5 to 7 hours. Data collection started in September 2019 and will end in December 2020. Key measurements include: Physical activity: two AX3 accelerometers and self-report. Physical fitness: hand grip test, 40 sec modified push-up test and the Åstrand-Ryhming step test. Respiratory function: spirometry Body size and composition: standard anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance (Seca mBCA 515). Motor function: Trail Making Test 1-5, Grooved Pegboard Test, the Bruininks Motor Ability Test, the High-Level Mobility Assessment Tool. Visual function: visual acuity, optical computerised tomography scans, visual fields, strabismus, fundoscopy, electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials. Questionnaires: ASEBA - Adult Self-Report, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function and Short form 36 Health Survey. Glucose tolerance (HeSVA only): oral glucose tolerance test.
Adults belonging to the original birth cohorts born 1978-85 (Helsinki) and 1986-88 (Trondheim).
Congenital syndromes and anomalies (NTNU), severe disability that makes testing or providing consent impossible