Adults born preterm have lower peripheral skeletal muscle area and strength

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 21457 - 10
• Main Authors: Deprez, Alyson, El-Jalbout, Ramy, Cloutier, Anik, Gagnon, Dany H., Gagnon Hamelin, Andréa, Mathieu, Marie-Eve, Kugathasan, Thiffya Arabi, Dumont, Nicolas A., Nuyt, Anne Monique, Luu, Thuy Mai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 13.09.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/136; 631/443; 692/699; Adult; Adults; Animal models; Atrophy; Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Cohort Studies; Female; Hand Strength - physiology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature - physiology; Male; multidisciplinary; Muscle; Muscle contraction; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle strength; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - diagnostic imaging; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Musculoskeletal system; Observational studies; Premature Birth; Prematurity; Quadriceps Muscle - diagnostic imaging; Quadriceps Muscle - physiology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Skeletal muscle; Stiffness; Strength; Ultrasonography; Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Muscle; Stiffness; Prematurity; Strength
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72533-6

Prematurity is associated with lower exercise capacity, which relies on the integrity of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and skeletal muscle systems. Our animal model mimicking prematurity-associated conditions showed altered muscle composition and atrophy in adulthood. This study aimed to compare muscle composition and strength in adults born preterm versus full-term controls. This observational cohort study recruited 55 adults born preterm, ≤ 29 weeks’ of gestation and 53 full-term controls who underwent musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging to assess morphology of the rectus femoris at rest and during a maximal voluntary contraction. Maximal voluntary contraction of the hands and legs were measured by manual dynamometry. In adults born preterm, there was lower muscle strength (handgrip: − 4.8 kg, 95% CI − 9.1, − 0.6; knee extensor: − 44.6 N/m, 95% CI − 63.4, − 25.8) and smaller muscle area (− 130 mm 2 , 95% CI − 207, − 53), which was more pronounced with a history of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Muscle stiffness was increased in the preterm versus term group (0.4 m/s, 95% CI 0.04, 0.7). Prematurity is associated with alterations in skeletal muscle composition, area, and function in adulthood. These findings highlight the necessity to implement preventive and/or curative approaches to improve muscle development and function following preterm birth to enhance overall health in this population.