Background Preterm birth has adverse consequences on the cardiovascular system. Whether premature birth is associated with conduction and repolarisation abnormalities past childhood and into adulthood still needs to be demonstrated. Methods We analyzed the ECG of young adults (23.9 ± 3.1 years) born term (≥37 weeks, n = 53) and preterm (<30 weeks, n = 49) at rest, peak exercise and 3 min into recovery during an exercise test on a cycle ergometer. We measured PR, QRS and QT intervals, calculated the corrected QT (QTc), and determined blood calcium, magnesium, potassium and fasting glucose. Results Mean gestational age was 39.7 ± 1.1 and 27.3 ± 1.3 weeks for the term and the preterm groups, respectively. Apart from an increased heart rate at rest in individuals born preterm, no significant difference was found between both groups for any other ECG parameters at rest. None of the participants had a severely prolonged QTc (>500 ms) at rest; exercise revealed severely prolonged QTc in two participants including one in the preterm group. The use of QT-prolonging medications did not influence ECG parameters in either groups. Conclusions We observed no significant difference in electrocardiographic measurements between young adults born preterm and term. Current results do not support avoidance of QT-prolonging medications in individuals born preterm. Impact Preterm birth is associated with adverse cardiovascular consequences in early adulthood, but controversial evidence exists regarding differences in electrocardiographic features between young individuals born term and preterm. This study aims to assess the differences in electrocardiographic features between young adults born term and preterm, at rest and during exercise training. In contrast with previously published data, we observed no significant difference in electrocardiographic measurements between young adults born preterm and term. Our study does not support that preterm birth itself exposes young adults to a higher risk of QT prolongation. Current results do not support avoidance of QT-prolonging medications in individuals born preterm.

中文翻译：

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妊娠 30 周以下早产的年轻成人在休息和运动时的心电图特征

背景 早产对心血管系统有不利影响。早产是否与儿童期之后和成年期的传导和复极异常有关仍然需要证明。方法 我们分析了年轻成人 (23.9 ± 3.1 岁) 足月 (≥37 周，n = 53) 和早产 (<30 周，n = 49) 在休息、运动高峰期和运动测试期间恢复的 3 分钟的心电图在自行车测力计上。我们测量了 PR、QRS 和 QT 间期，计算了校正 QT (QTc)，并测定了血钙、镁、钾和空腹血糖。结果足月组和早产组的平均胎龄分别为 39.7 ± 1.1 和 27.3 ± 1.3 周。除了早产者的静息心率增加外，在静息状态下，两组之间的任何其他心电图参数均未发现显着差异。没有参与者在休息时出现严重延长的 QTc（>500 ms）；运动显示两名参与者的 QTc 严重延长，其中一名参加早产组。使用延长 QT 间期的药物不影响两组的 ECG 参数。结论 我们观察到早产和足月的年轻人在心电图测量方面没有显着差异。目前的结果不支持早产者避免使用延长 QT 的药物。影响 早产与成年早期的心血管不良后果有关，但关于足月出生和早产的年轻个体的心电图特征差异存在争议的证据。本研究旨在评估足月和早产、休息和运动训练期间出生的年轻成人之间心电图特征的差异。与之前公布的数据相比，我们观察到早产和足月的年轻成人的心电图测量结果没有显着差异。我们的研究不支持早产本身会使年轻人面临更高的 QT 间期延长风险。目前的结果不支持早产者避免使用延长 QT 的药物。我们的研究不支持早产本身会使年轻人面临更高的 QT 间期延长风险。目前的结果不支持早产者避免使用延长 QT 的药物。我们的研究不支持早产本身会使年轻人面临更高的 QT 间期延长风险。目前的结果不支持早产者避免使用延长 QT 的药物。