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- Title
A Preliminary Study of Correlates of Premature Birth and Their Influence on Cortisol Levels in Young Children.
- Authors
Kloosterboer, Sophia; Anolda Naber, Fabiënne Bertina; Heyman, Hiltje; Hoffmann-Haringsma, Angelique; Brunt, Tibor Markus
- Abstract
Objective: The HPA-axis is programmed during early infancy, but a lot is unknown about the programming of the HPA-axis in prematurely born or small for gestational age (SGA) children. Therefore, the aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the influence of prematurity and variables associated with birth on cortisol levels in young children. Methods: Cortisol was measured in a cross-sectional design in 38 premature born participants (<37 weeks of gestation), aged between 3 – 9 years old. Correlates of prematurity (degree of prematurity and birth delivery route) were investigated in relationship with cortisol levels with regression analysis. Results: Corrected for sex, delivery by C-section was associated with lower cortisol levels in the children (ß = −.42, p =.028), with an explained variance of 34%. Conclusion: Birth delivery route by C-section is associated with lowered (or flattened) cortisol levels in children born prematurely. This is clinically relevant and might have important implications, because an HPA-axis disturbance might lead to developmental problems later on in life. However, future research is necessary to investigate the underlying indications for performing a C-section, which will help to understand factors that influence the HPA-axis development in children born prematurely.
- Subjects
CROSS-sectional method; CESAREAN section; PREMATURE infants; HYDROCORTISONE; PREGNANCY outcomes; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; DEVELOPMENTAL disabilities; HYPOTHALAMIC-pituitary-adrenal axis; GESTATIONAL age; DATA analysis software; REGRESSION analysis; HEALTH care teams; DISEASE risk factors; CHILDREN
- Publication
Biological Research for Nursing, 2024, Vol 26, Issue 2, p240
- ISSN
1099-8004
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/10998004231209429