Design and feasibility of “PREMATurity as predictor of children's Cardiovascular–renal Health” (PREMATCH): A pilot study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Hypothesis and work plan.

Figure 2. Flowchart of pilot and study design. ELBW, extremely low birth weight.

Table I. Characteristics of participants in the pilot study.

Characteristic	Index participants (N = 12)	Control participants (N = 9)	Overall (N = 21)
Gender (male/female)	5/7	5/4	10/11
Age (years)	11.5 ± 1.2	11.3 ± 1.3	11.4 ± 1.2
Body weight (kg)	39 ± 12	41 ± 7	40 ± 10
Muscle mass (%)	34 ± 3	32 ± 7	33 ± 5
Fat mass (%)	19 ± 9	22 ± 7	20 ± 8
BMI (kg/m²)	19 ± 4	19 ± 2	19 ± 3
Waist circumference (cm)	66 ± 9	68 ± 10	67 ± 9
Hip circumference (cm)	77 ± 12	78 ± 8	77 ± 10
Body height (cm)	146 ± 8	146 ± 9	146 ± 8
Skin folds (mm)
Upper arm	1.4 ± 0.6	1.2 ± 0.4	1.3 ± 0.5
Subscapular	0.9 ± 0.5	0.9 ± 0.6	0.9 ± 0.5
Suprailiac	0.9 ± 0.5	0.8 ± 0.4	0.8 ± 0.5

Data are shown as n/n or mean ± SD.

BMI, body mass index.

Table II. Phenotyping of participants in the pilot study.

Phenotyping	Index participants	Control participants	Overall
Microvascular structure and function
Endothelial function (Flomedi)
Baseline pulse amplitude, hyperemic finger	0.50 ± 0.20	0.52 ± 0.24	0.51 ± 0.22
Control pulse amplitude, control finger	0.44 ± 0.28	0.38 ± 0.14	0.41 ± 0.23
Sublingual capillaries (GlycoCheck)
Total capillary density (no./mm²)	538 ± 75	548 ± 83	542 ± 79
Perfused capillary density (no./mm²)	303 ± 62	290 ± 63	298 ± 61
Perfused boundary region (μm)	1.94 ± 0.24	1.88 ± 0.33	1.91 ± 0.33
Retinal imaging
Central retinal arteriolar equivalent (μm)	147.8 ± 9.1	157.4 ± 11.4	151.9 ± 11.0
Central retinal venular equivalent (μm)	218.1 ± 10.3	228.0 ± 12.3	222.3 ± 12.0
Arteriole-to-venule ratio	0.68 ± 0.05	0.69 ± 0.07	0.69 ± 0.06
Macrovascular structure and function
Ultrasound heart
Left ventricular mass (g)	75.6 ± 15.9	86.2 ± 7.8	80.1 ± 13.9
Left ventricular mass (Z-score)	–1.37 ± 1.21	–0.69 ± 0.75	–1.08 ± 1.07
Macrovascular function (SphygmoCor)
Carotid–femoral PWV (m/s)	4.13 ± 1.34	4.19 ± 0.65	4.16 ± 1.06
Central systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	91.9 ± 6.9	87.9 ± 7.6	89.9 ± 7.3
Central diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	64.3 ± 4.5	64.7 ± 7.0	64.5 ± 5.7
Blood pressure (mmHg)	114/71 ± 11/9	112/74 ± 8/6	114/73 ± 10/8

Data are shown as mean ± SD.

PWV, pulse-wave velocity.

Table III. Survey of discomfort and participation efforts in the pilot study.

Question	Overall^a
Overall clarity of explanation for children	4.4 ± 0.6
Letter to child	4.2 ± 0.4
Physician during home visit for children	4.8 ± 0.5
Researchers in examination center for children	4.3 ± 0.9
Clarity of explanation for parents	4.7 ± 0.6
Letter to parents	4.7 ± 0.5
Physician during home visit for parent	4.7 ± 0.5
Researchers in examination center for parent	4.6 ± 0.7
Children's reported discomfort for survey	4.4 ± 0.7
Reported participation effort for parents	4.0 ± 1.1
Parents willingness to participate in further studies	4.7 ± 0.5
Children’s willingness to participate in further studies	4.4 ± 0.7

Data are shown as mean ± SD.

^aScore: maximum 5 (fully agree, i.e. clear explanation, no discomfort, no effort, willing to participate again) to 1 (fully disagree, i.e. unclear explanation, discomfort, a lot of effort, not willing to participate again).