Relationship Between Premature Birth and Acquired Heart Disease in Adulthood: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction

Premature birth has a causal relationship with hypertension and diabetes, which are significant risk factors for major cardiovascular disease. Nonetheless, little is known whether premature birth portends future risks of acquired heart diseases, for example, ischemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), and valvular heart disease (VHD).

Methods

We comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane database from inception to December 2021. Studies with prospective and retrospective cohort designs that reported the association between premature birth and acquired heart disease, including IHD, HF, and VHD, were included. Data from each study were combined with a random-effects model. The results were reported in the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

The selected studies were comprised of 7 studies, with 5 studies involving premature birth and the development of IHD in adulthood and 2 studies involving premature birth and HF. No studies reporting the relationship between premature birth and VHD met our initial inclusion criteria. Our study did not find any association between premature birth and IHD in the adulthood (HR 1.14 95% CI 0.91-1.19, P = .16, I² = 51%). We found the association between premature birth and acquired HF (HR 1.53 95% CI 1.08-2.16, P = .01, I² = 0)

Conclusion

Premature birth was not statistically associated with IHD in adulthood, but there was a significant association between preterm and HF.