Kei Tamai1, Masahiro Nishihara2, Katsuya Hirata2, Jun Shiraishi3, Shinya Hirano4, Masanori Fujimura5, Suguru Yano6, Tadahiro Kanazawa7, Hiroyuki Kitajima8. 1. Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, 840 Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka 594-1101, Japan; Department of Neonatology, Okayama Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, 1711-1 Tamasu, Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama 701-1192, Japan. Electronic address: tamaikei@okayamamc.jp. 2. Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, 840 Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka 594-1101, Japan. 3. Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, 840 Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka 594-1101, Japan. Electronic address: js@mch.pref.osaka.jp. 4. Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, 840 Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka 594-1101, Japan. Electronic address: shirano@mch.pref.osaka.jp. 5. Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, 840 Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka 594-1101, Japan. Electronic address: mfuji@pd.highway.ne.jp. 6. Department of Education, Faculty of Health and Physical Education, Wakayama University, 930 Sakaedani, Wakayama, Wakayama 640-8510, Japan. Electronic address: yano@center.wakayama-u.ac.jp. 7. Department of Comparative and Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Osaka University, 1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. Electronic address: kanazawa@hus.osaka-u.ac.jp. 8. Department of Neonatal Medicine, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, 840 Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka 594-1101, Japan. Electronic address: kitajima@mch.pref.osaka.jp.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The assessment of long-term outcomes in survivors born with extremely low birth weights (ELBWs) has become increasingly important. However, little has been reported on the physical fitness of non-disabled school-aged children born with ELBWs. AIMS: To assess the physical fitness of non-disabled school-aged children born with ELBWs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: We analyzed 169 ELBW infants without cerebral palsy or intellectual disability (based on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) Full Scale intelligence quotient (IQ) test < 70). OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical fitness was assessed using the grip strength, sit-up repetitions, sit & reach, side steps, standing long jump, and softball throw tests. T-scores were calculated using national survey data. RESULTS: The T-scores for the grip strength, sit-up repetitions, sit & reach, side steps, standing long jump, softball throw tests, and the overall T-score were 43.7 ± 7.5, 44.2 ± 10.5, 46.0 ± 9.7, 40.9 ± 8.0, 40.0 ± 9.8, 42.4 ± 8.1, and 42.9 ± 5.5, respectively. After adjusting for other age-related factors, the height (SD score), WISC-III Performance IQ score, and percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) independently predicted the overall T-scores. Their standardized partial regression coefficients (β) were 0.334 (p = 0.009), 0.190 (p = 0.022), and 0.187 (p = 0.032), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our cohort's physical fitness at approximately 8 years of age was significantly impaired compared to average Japanese children of the same age. Height, FVC, and Performance IQ independently predicted physical fitness, with height being the strongest predictor.
BACKGROUND: The assessment of long-term outcomes in survivors born with extremely low birth weights (ELBWs) has become increasingly important. However, little has been reported on the physical fitness of non-disabled school-aged children born with ELBWs. AIMS: To assess the physical fitness of non-disabled school-aged children born with ELBWs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: We analyzed 169 ELBW infants without cerebral palsy or intellectual disability (based on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) Full Scale intelligence quotient (IQ) test < 70). OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical fitness was assessed using the grip strength, sit-up repetitions, sit & reach, side steps, standing long jump, and softball throw tests. T-scores were calculated using national survey data. RESULTS: The T-scores for the grip strength, sit-up repetitions, sit & reach, side steps, standing long jump, softball throw tests, and the overall T-score were 43.7 ± 7.5, 44.2 ± 10.5, 46.0 ± 9.7, 40.9 ± 8.0, 40.0 ± 9.8, 42.4 ± 8.1, and 42.9 ± 5.5, respectively. After adjusting for other age-related factors, the height (SD score), WISC-III Performance IQ score, and percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) independently predicted the overall T-scores. Their standardized partial regression coefficients (β) were 0.334 (p = 0.009), 0.190 (p = 0.022), and 0.187 (p = 0.032), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our cohort's physical fitness at approximately 8 years of age was significantly impaired compared to average Japanese children of the same age. Height, FVC, and Performance IQ independently predicted physical fitness, with height being the strongest predictor.