Ventricular-arterial coupling is preserved in prematurely born 11-year-old children but calls for life-long prevention of hemodynamic deterioration.

Background: Premature birth disrupts the intra-uterine structural and functional maturation of the left ventricle (LV) and arteries. The study investigated the impact of premature birth on ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC), a potential precursor of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Methods: This case-control study in Northern Belgium (2011-2016) included 93 extremely-low-birth-weight (ELBW) cases and 87 sex and age-matched term-born controls. Main outcomes included SBP and DBP, central arterial properties, echocardiographic structure and function, and VAC.

Results: Compared with controls, cases were shorter by 4.1 cm [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.3-7.0] and lighter by 4.1 kg (95% CI: 1.3-6.9). Cases had higher central SBP/DBP (+7.3/3.0 mmHg; 95% CI: 4.7-9.9/1.1-4.8), lower left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions, and 9.2 g (95% CI: 3.7-14.6) lower left ventricular mass. Left ventricular volumes and mass correlated with body size without significant between-group differences (P ≥ 0.12). Cardiac output was 0.38 l/min lower in cases, who also had higher arterial resistance (29.5 vs. 24.4 mmHg × min/l) and augmentation ratio (1.10 vs. 1.05). The tension-time index was 231 mmHg × ms (95% CI: 128-335) higher in cases. Ea and Ees were higher in cases (0.40 and 0.65 mmHg/ml, respectively), but VAC did not differ between groups (P = 0.48).

Conclusion: Compensatory mechanisms maintain the anatomical and functional integrity of the cardiovascular system in ELBW youth, but mask their vulnerability to cardiovascular disease in adulthood and necessitate careful follow-up during adolescence.