Final height and cardiometabolic outcomes in young adults with very low birth weight (<1500 g).

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) are known to be predisposed to both short final height and cardiometabolic disorders. However, associations between final height and cardiometabolic outcomes including glucose metabolism in VLBW individuals in young adulthood are not fully investigated. METHODS: We investigated glucose metabolism and other cardiometabolic outcomes such as lipid profiles, blood pressure, renal function, urinary albumin, and thyroid function in young adults with VLBW born between 1980 and 1990. Short stature was defined as a final height <10th percentile. Glucose intolerance [diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and impaired fasting glucose (IFG)] was determined using 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests. Associations between final height and cardiometabolic outcomes were examined using logistic or multiple linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 628 VLBW individuals were screened and 111 young adults with VLBW (19-30 years) participated in the study. Of the participants, 40 subjects (36%) had short stature with a final height <10th percentile. Eight subjects (7.2%) had glucose intolerance (1, diabetes; 6, IGT; 1, IFG). Short stature was correlated with glucose intolerance (odds ratio 11.1; 95% CI 1.92, 99.7; P = 0.006). Final height was inversely associated with the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) of insulin resistance, HOMA-β, insulinogenic index, and total/LDL-cholesterol. The associations of final height with insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles remained after adjustment for target height and age at puberty onset. CONCLUSIONS: Shorter final height was associated with less favorable metabolic profiles in young adults with VLBW, and may be partly mediated by reduced insulin sensitivity. These associations were independent of target height or age at puberty onset

Parental height, target height, and age at puberty onset of subjects with VLBW who were included in the extended analyses.

<p>Data are expressed as the mean (SD) or <i>n</i> (%).</p><p>*<i>P</i> values are shown for the comparison between males and females.</p>†<p>Below the target height and <10th percentile.</p><p>Parental height, target height, and age at puberty onset of subjects with VLBW who were included in the extended analyses.</p

Associations between final height and cardiometabolic outcomes in young adults with VLBW in the primary and extended analyses.

<p>*Associations were adjusted for sex, body weight, family history of diabetes, and SGA/AGA.</p>†<p>Associations were adjusted for sex, body weight, family history of diabetes, SGA/AGA, target height, and age at puberty onset.</p>‡<p>Measured during 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests.</p>§<p>eGFR = 194×Cre^−1.094× Age^−0.287 (×0.739 for females).</p><p>AGA, appropriate for gestational age; CI, confidence interval; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; fT4, free T4; SGA, small for gestational age; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone.</p><p>Associations between final height and cardiometabolic outcomes in young adults with VLBW in the primary and extended analyses.</p

Subject disposition.

<p>Subject disposition.</p