title: Antenatal steroid exposure and heart rate variability in adolescents born with very low birth weight.
abstract: Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) suggests autonomic imbalance in the control of heart rate and is associated with unfavorable cardiometabolic outcomes. We examined whether antenatal corticosteroid (ANCS) exposure had long-term programming effects on HRV in adolescents born with very low birth weight (VLBW).
  
  
  
  Follow-up study of a cohort of VLBW 14-y olds born between 1992 and 1996 with 50% exposed to ANCS. HRV in both the time and frequency domains using Nevrokard Software was determined from a 5-min electrocardiogram tracing.
  
  
  
  HRV data from 89 (35 male, 53 non-black) exposed (ANCS+) and 77 (28 male, 29 non-black) unexposed (ANCS-) adolescents were analyzed. HRV did not differ between ANCS+ and ANCS- black participants. However, in non-black participants, a significant interaction between ANCS and sex was observed, with ANCS- females having significantly greater HRV than ANCS+ females and males, and ANCS- males for both time and frequency domain variables.
  
  
  
  Among non-black adolescents born with VLBW, ANCS exposure is associated with reduced HRV with apparent sex-specificity. Reduced HRV has been associated with development of adverse cardiometabolic outcomes, thus supporting the need to monitor these outcomes in VLBW adolescents as they mature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina.|Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Nixon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Washburn
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michael O'Shea
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Hossam A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Shaltout
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Gregory B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Beverly M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Snively
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001741:Black or African American; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000187:drug effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones