A NEW ZEALAND VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT STUDY PROJECT: Cardiovascular Outcomes for Mothers and Babies. Hauora Manawa Mo Nga Whanau.

Adults who were born prematurely and mothers who give birth to a preterm baby are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease but neither are included in New Zealand’s risk assessment guidelines. As part of a wider project investigating the impact of premature birth on cardiovascular health we will invite the New Zealand Very Low Birth Weight cohort (born <1500g) and their mothers to have their cardiovascular disease risk assessed and compared to a control group. We will compare cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular events, general health and reproductive history in the premature-born NZ VLBW cohort and controls at age 35 years (2021). Cardiovascular events and risk factor trajectory will be compared to cardiovascular risk estimations using health data collected as part of risk factor data collected at 28 years of age using validated calculators (such as NZ PREDICT guidelines). We will also compare cardiovascular disease event rate and all-cause mortality in mothers of the NZ VLBW cohort compared to mothers of controls and calculate and compare five year cardiovascular risk estimates using the NZ PREDICT equations. This will be compared to actual cardiovascular disease events as part of a comprehensive evaluation of cardiovascular health planned in five years’ time. Evaluation for cardiovascular risk in participants will be based upon medical history, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements and blood testing for diabetes and dyslipidemia. This study and our wider research project will help to inform recommendations around cardiovascular risk screening after preterm birth/delivery.