Preterm birth and subsequent timing of pubertal growth, menarche, and voice break.

Background: We evaluated pubertal growth and pubertal timing of participants born preterm compared to those born at term.

Methods: In the ESTER Preterm Birth Study, we collected growth data and measured final height of men/women born very or moderately preterm (<34 gestational weeks, n = 52/55), late preterm (34-<37 weeks, 94/106), and term (≥37 weeks, 131/151), resulting in median 9 measurements at ≥6 years. Timing of menarche or voice break was self-reported.

Reaction times, learning, and executive functioning in adults born preterm.

Background: This study examines cognitive functioning in adults born across the range of prematurity with appropriate or small for gestational age (SGA) birth weight compared with full-term controls.

Methods: ESTER Preterm Birth Study participants without severe disabilities, comprising 133 early preterm (<34 weeks, 17% SGA), 241 late preterm (34 + 0-36 + 6 weeks, 13% SGA), and 348 full-term subjects, performed the Cogstate® test at a mean age of 23.3 (SD = 1.

Early postnatal nutrition after preterm birth and cardiometabolic risk factors in young adulthood.

Objectives: Adults born preterm at very low birthweight (VLBW; <1500 g) have a non-optimal cardiometabolic risk factor profile. Since higher protein intake during the first weeks of life predicted a healthier body composition in adulthood in our previous studies, we hypothesized that it would also predict a favorable cardiometabolic profile.

Study Design: The Helsinki Study of VLBW Adults includes 166 VLBW and preterm infants born between 1978 and 1985.