Abstract Introduction: Suspected preterm labor (SPL), defined as the presence of regular and painful uterine contractions and cervical shortening, represents a prenatal insult with potential long-term consequences. However, despite recent evidence demonstrating suboptimal neurodevelopment at 2 years in this population, it remains underestimated as a significant risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders or other chronic diseases. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of suspected preterm labor during pregnancy on cardiometabolic profile and neurodevelopment during childhood (6–8 years). Methods and analysis: Prospective cohort study including children whose mothers suffered suspected preterm labour during pregnancy and paired controls. Neurodevelopmental, cardiovascular, and metabolic assessments will be performed at 6–8 years of age. A trained psychologist will carry out the neurodevelopment assessment including intelligence, visual perception, and behavioral assessment. Body composition and physical fitness assessment will be performed by one trained pediatrician and nurse. Finally, cardiovascular evaluation, including echocardiography and blood pressure, will be performed by two pediatric cardiologists. Data regarding perinatal and postnatal characteristics, diet, lifestyle, and weekly screen time of the child will be obtained from medical history and direct interviews with families. Primary outcome measures will include body mass index and adiposity, percentage of fat mass and total and regional lean mass, bone mineral content and density, cardiorespiratory resistance, isometric muscle strength, dynamic lower body strength, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left ventricle (LV) systolic and diastolic function, general intelligence index, visuospatial working memory span, oculomotor control test, index of emotional, and behavioral problems. Keywords: suspected preterm labor, preterm birth, fetal programming, neurodevelopment, cardiometabolic profile
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Jesús González, Marina Vilella, Sonia Ruiz et al.. Impact of Suspected Preterm Labor during Pregnancy on Cardiometabolic Profile and Neurodevelopment during Childhood: A Prospective Cohort Study Protocol. Diagnostics. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13061101 Jesús González, Marina Vilella, Sonia Ruiz, Iris Iglesia, Marcos Clavero-Adell, Ariadna Ayerza-Casas, Angel Matute-Llorente, Daniel Oros, Jose Antonio Casajús, Victoria Pueyo, Gerardo Rodriguez, Cristina Paules
1Pediatrics Department, Quirónsalud Hospital Zaragoza, 50006 Zaragoza, Spain 2Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragon), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain 3Red RICORS “Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin”, RD21/0012/0001, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain 4Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragon IA2 Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain 5Paediatric Cardiology Department, Miguel Servet University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain 6Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cardiovascular (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain 7Department of Physiatry and Nursing, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences (FCSD), University of Zaragoza, 22001 Huesca, Spain 8Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition Networking Biomedical Research Center (CIBERObn), 28029 Madrid, Spain 9Obstetrics Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa Zaragoza, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain 10Ophthalmology Department, Miguel Servet University Hospital, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain 11Pediatrics Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain 