However, when very preterm adolescents with moderate-severe BPD were compared to very preterm ones without BPD, the first group showed a trend towards worse left ventricle function: less shortening fraction (37.5 ± 3.2% vs. 40.7 ± 4.9%, p = 0.07), less ejection fraction (68 ± 4.4% vs. 71.2 ± 5.4%, p = 0.06) and a greater E/E’ ratio (6.4 ± 0.8 vs. 4.9 ± 1.04, p = 0.01).
IUGR associated with reduced FEV 1 and FVC, although the difference did not reach statistical significance ( p = 0.07 and p = 0.08 respectively).
13 , over-representation of girls with IUGR does not weaken the observed difference between the IUGR and the no-IUGR groups since the association remained almost significant after adjustment for gender and prematurity.
Although the difference compared with control subjects is on average only a few mm Hg, the risk induced may be significant as an increase of 5 mm Hg in blood pressure in a young adult has been shown to translate into a 34% higher risk of dying due to stroke later in life 51 , 52 .