Physical activity and associations with health-related quality of life in adults born small for gestational age at term: a prospective cohort study

Cathrin Vano Mehl; Silje Dahl Benum; Kristina Anna Djupvik Aakvik; Atle Kongsvold; Paul Jarle Mork; Eero Kajantie; Kari Anne I Evensen

doi:10.1186/s12887-023-04256-y

Physical activity and associations with health-related quality of life in adults born small for gestational age at term: a prospective cohort study

BMC Pediatr. 2023 Aug 28;23(1):430. doi: 10.1186/s12887-023-04256-y.

Authors

Cathrin Vano Mehl¹, Silje Dahl Benum², Kristina Anna Djupvik Aakvik², Atle Kongsvold³, Paul Jarle Mork³, Eero Kajantie^{2

4

5

6}, Kari Anne I Evensen^{2

7

8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway. cathrivm@stud.ntnu.no.
² Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway.
³ Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
⁴ Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Promotion Unit, Helsinki and Oulu, Finland.
⁵ Clinical Medicine Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
⁶ Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
⁷ Unit for Physiotherapy Services, Trondheim Municipality, Trondheim, Norway.
⁸ Children's Clinic, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
⁹ Department of Rehabilitation Science and Health Technology, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

Background: Adults born small for gestational age (SGA) have increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Physical activity (PA) is a key determinant of health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aimed to investigate if being born SGA at term is associated with lower objectively measured and self-reported PA during adulthood. We also examined if objectively measured and self-reported PA were associated with HRQoL.

Methods: As part of the 32-year follow-up in the NTNU Low Birth Weight in a Lifetime Perspective study, SGA and non-SGA control participants wore two tri-axial accelerometers for seven days (37 SGA, 43 control), and completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (42 SGA, 49 control) and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) (55 SGA, 67 control). Group differences in objectively measured daily metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes spent sedentary (lying, sitting), on feet (standing, walking, running, cycling), on the move (walking, running, cycling) and running/cycling, and group differences in self-reported daily MET minutes spent walking and in moderate and vigorous PA were examined using linear regression. Associations with SF-36 were explored in a general linear model.

Results: Mean (SD) daily MET minutes on the move were 218 (127) in the SGA group and 227 (113) in the control group. There were no group differences in objectively measured and self-reported PA or associations with HRQoL. In the SGA group, one MET minute higher objectively measured time on the move was associated with 4.0 (95% CI: 0.6-6.5, p = 0.009) points higher SF-36 physical component summary.

Conclusion: We found no differences in objectively measured and self-reported PA or associations with HRQoL between term-born SGA and non-SGA control participants in adulthood.

Keywords: Adult; Health status; Human activities; Long-term outcome; Longitudinal studies; Objective measure; SF-36; Sedentary behavior; Self report; Wearable electronic devices.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Exercise
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Small for Gestational Age*
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life*