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. 2017 Jan;81(1-1):57-62.
doi: 10.1038/pr.2016.173. Epub 2016 Sep 15.

Antenatal steroid exposure and heart rate variability in adolescents born with very low birth weight

Patricia A Nixon  1   2 , Lisa K Washburn  2 , Thomas Michael O'Shea  3 , Hossam A Shaltout  4 , Gregory B Russell  5 , Beverly M Snively  5 , James C Rose  4
Affiliations

Antenatal steroid exposure and heart rate variability in adolescents born with very low birth weight

Patricia A Nixon et al. Pediatr Res. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) suggests autonomic imbalance in the control of heart rate and is associated with unfavorable cardiometabolic outcomes. We examined whether antenatal corticosteroid (ANCS) exposure had long-term programming effects on HRV in adolescents born with very low birth weight (VLBW).

Methods: Follow-up study of a cohort of VLBW 14-y olds born between 1992 and 1996 with 50% exposed to ANCS. HRV in both the time and frequency domains using Nevrokard Software was determined from a 5-min electrocardiogram tracing.

Results: HRV data from 89 (35 male, 53 non-black) exposed (ANCS+) and 77 (28 male, 29 non-black) unexposed (ANCS-) adolescents were analyzed. HRV did not differ between ANCS+ and ANCS- black participants. However, in non-black participants, a significant interaction between ANCS and sex was observed, with ANCS- females having significantly greater HRV than ANCS+ females and males, and ANCS- males for both time and frequency domain variables.

Conclusion: Among non-black adolescents born with VLBW, ANCS exposure is associated with reduced HRV with apparent sex-specificity. Reduced HRV has been associated with development of adverse cardiometabolic outcomes, thus supporting the need to monitor these outcomes in VLBW adolescents as they mature.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Follow-up details of study participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) and (b). Boxplots demonstrating a significant interaction between ANCS X sex from multiple regression analysis in non-black participants for: (a) the log-transformed time domain variable of SDNN (p=.043), and (b) the log-transformed frequency domain variable of HF (p=.017). ANCS+ and ANCS− are represented by hatched and open boxes, respectively. The regression models included ANCS, sex, ANCS X sex, and birth weight z-value. Post-hoc comparisons of least square means indicated that ANCS− females had significantly greater SDNN and HF compared to ANCS+ females and males as well as ANCS− males.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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