Respiratory morbidity in extremely premature born children and later physical activity

Introduction: Extremely premature born (EPB) children carry an increased risk of a range of shortcomings that may influence physical activity. Respiratory morbidity has in several studies been related to lower physical capacity. Aim: To examine the relationship between respiratory morbidity and level of physical activity and endurance in preterm born children 11 years of age. Methods: A nationwide Norwegian questionnaire based study of children born at gestational age Results: Questionnaires were returned for 232/372 (62%) EPB and 57 TB children. In the EPB group, 49% had a history of neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and 16% had current asthma (CA), while 10% had both neonatal BPD and CA, compared to 7% with CA in the TB group. We found no difference in activity level (sessions of vigorous activity per week) between EPB with or without BPD (19% vs. 18% reported ≥4 sessions weekly), and no difference between EPB with or without CA (18% vs. 19%). However, parents reported lower physical endurance for EPB with vs. without neonatal BPD and with vs. without CA (46% vs. 33% and 72% vs. 33%, respectively). The EPB group was less active than the TB group (18% vs 44% reported ≥4 sessions), and also reported less physical endurance (40% vs 16 %). Conclusions: EPB children were described as less physically active with less physical endurance compared to TB controls. Within the EPB group, children with asthma or BPD reported similar physical activity, but lower endurance, especially those with asthma. However, prematurity stands out as the most important factor for lower physical activity.