Title: Preterm birth and infant diurnal cortisol regulation. Author: Stoye DQ, Boardman JP, Osmond C, Sullivan G, Lamb G, Black GS, Homer NZ, Nelson N, Theodorsson E, Reynolds RM, Mörelius E. Journal: Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed; 2022 Sep; 107(5):565-567. PubMed ID: 35288450. Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis adaptation is a potential mechanism linking early life exposures with later adverse health. This study tested the hypothesis that preterm birth is associated with adaptation of diurnal cortisol regulation across infancy. METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted of saliva cortisol measured morning, midday and evening, monthly, across infancy, as part of a birth cohort conducted in Linköping, Sweden. Diurnal cortisol regulation of infants born extremely preterm (n=24), very preterm (n=27) and at term (n=130) were compared across infancy through random coefficients regression models. RESULTS: Compared with infants born at term, infants born extremely preterm (-17.2%, 95% CI: -30.7 to -1.2), but not very preterm (1.7%, 95% CI: -14.1 to 20.4), had a flattened diurnal slope across infancy. CONCLUSIONS: Extremely preterm birth is associated with a flattened diurnal slope in infancy. This pattern of cortisol regulation could contribute to adverse metabolic and neurodevelopmental phenotypes observed in this population.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]
