The purpose of the HAPI project is to study the overall health of preterm infants once they reach adulthood. The investigators would like to compare the health of adults born preterm with that of adults born full-term. They would also like to find the early signs, or biomarkers, of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and chronic lung diseases.

Such biomarkers would allow for early diagnosis and prevention. Furthermore, the investigators would like to understand why some people born preterm are more likely to develop chronic disease. They believe that inflammation and oxidative stress may play a part. Oxidative stress is present when the body is not able to defend itself against oxygen-derived products that can damage our cells.

To carry out this study, the investigators will examine 6 aspects of the health: (1) heart and circulation, (2) kidneys, (3) lungs, (4) metabolism - sugars and fats in the blood, (5) bones, and (6) eyes.

The participants, from both groups will spend a whole day at St. Justine's hospital. Upon arrival after an overnight fast, vital signs and anthropometric measures are taken. Then blood and urine are obtained as well and a pregnancy test is performed for women. After inserting a intravenous catheter, around 55 mL of blood is taken and sent to the biochemistry department and to our laboratory. A oral glucose tolerance test is also performed with blood sampling over 2hours.

Then a renal and carotid ultrasounds, as well as a osteodensitometry test (bone mineral density and body muscle/fat composition) are done. Ophtalmology exam is realized by ophtalmologist, including visual acuity, contrast and fundus photograph, then the participants are provided with a standardized light lunch.

A thorough cardiac ultrasound, as well as assessment of major arteries (aorta, carotid, brachial) structure and function are performed. Pulmonary function tests are done before a fitness test for VO2 max, and repeated with bronchodilatator after the fitness test.

Prior to leaving, participants are given a ambulatory blood pressure monitor for them to carry for 24 consecutive hours over the following 2 days.

Prior to the study day, participants are sent questionnaires to be filled in advance by themselves and by each of their parent. During the study day, other questionnaires regarding their lifestyles and medical condition are also filled. Overall, information is obtained about:

(1) Socio-economic status: Occupation, education level and income of participant and parents. (2) Family history: Parental health (including maternal pregnancies) and familial (1st and 2nd degree) premature history of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), type-2 diabetes, chronic pulmonary or renal diseases. (3) Personal medical history: Current medication use (including anti-inflammatory medications), medical history, current symptoms, and growth parameters from birth to present (according to medical records and child health care booklet), age at menarche.

(4) Health-related behaviors: (a) regular physical activities (Minnesota and Huet validated questionnaires) (b) Smoking and alcohol consumption. (c) Diet assessed through the validated and self-administered 73-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). (d) SF-36 Health Survey.

In addition to the study protocol, the subjects are invited to contribute extra biosamples to our blood (3 ml) and urine (1 ml) biobank.

Inclusion Criteria:

EPT :

• Birth at GA<29 wks
• Age 18-29 years at the time of assessment (age of peak human physiological function)

Terms:

• Birth at GA ≥37 wks
• Born in Quebec, to account for health care access during pregnancy and throughout infancy/childhood
• Birth date within 2 years of index case
• Age 18-29 years at the time of assessment
• Same self-reported race as preterm participant.

Exclusion Criteria:

Both groups :

• Currently pregnant due to X-ray related risks
• Severe neurosensory deficit preventing test completion.
• In case of twins (or +), if both fulfil inclusion criteria, only one will selected (random) to participate to the study

The extremely preterm subjects need to come with a same sex born term subject.

All adults born at GA<29 wks at CHU Sainte-Justine, the Royal Victoria Hospital, and the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, in 1987-97. For each EPT subject, a friend control matched on sex is selected to control in part for lifestyle and social factors (e.g. diet, physical activity, health care visits), and environmental exposure that may affect inflammatory status and disease risk. Indeed, given the known link between lower socio-economic status, lifestyle habits and CVD risk factors, and that women from lower SES and with poor lifestyle behaviors are at increased risk to deliver prematurely, a friend control, who is more likely to have evolved in a similar milieu, will allow us to better isolate the effect of preterm birth on studied outcomes from socio-environmental factors.

all IPD that underlie results in a publication

Starting 1 year after all results of the study are published.

Request of collaboration through data access will be examined by the PI's.