Limited Functional Capacity in Very Low Birth Weight Premature Children

A cross sectional study was performed comparing 6-9 year old children born before 37 weeks gestation weighing less than 1500 grams and children born full term.  Each group of children participated in the 6 minute walk test and the 10 minute shuttle walk test.  The results indicated the following:

• the premature children walked shorter distances in the 6 minute walk test
• both groups walked similar distances in the 10 minute shuttle walk test
• walking distance was associated with height and oxygen dependency at 28 days in both the 6 and the 10 minute test

The researchers concluded that children born prematurely with very low birth weight, especially those who had bronchopulmonary dysplasia may present with limited functional capacity during exercise.

Reference: Tsopanoglou, S. P., Davidson, J., Goulart, A. L., de Moraes Barros, M. C. and dos Santos, A. M. N. (2013), Functional capacity during exercise in very-low-birth-weight premature children. Pediatr. Pulmonol.. doi: 10.1002/ppul.22754