Kramer M; Division of Pediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Li P; Langer M; Vilsmaier T; Sciuk F; Kolbinger B; Jakob A; Rogenhofer N; Dalla-Pozza R;Thaler C; Haas NA; Oberhoffer FS;
European journal of pediatrics [Eur J Pediatr] 2025 Jun 21; Vol. 184 (7), pp. 431.
Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jun 21.
Children conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART) potentially display an increased cardiovascular morbidity. Despite cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscle strength being key indicators of cardiovascular outcomes, they have not been investigated in ART offspring yet. This observational pilot cohort study aimed to evaluate CRF and muscle strength in ART participants and spontaneously conceived controls.
Anthropometric variables, diet quality, level of physical activity, and sedentary behavior were evaluated. Participants performed a 6-min walking test (6MWT) and a 20-m shuttle run test (20mSRT). 6MWT distance and the number of archived laps were assessed, the maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2 max ) was estimated, and pulse rate recovery was calculated. Maximal hand grip strength (HGS) was determined as a marker of muscle strength. Generalized linear models were used to adjust data for age, birthweight, and gestational age. Sixty-seven ART participants and 86 spontaneously conceived peers were included. Both groups did not differ significantly in age (11.3 (IQR 8.1-18.2) vs. 11.9 (IQR 8.7-18.3) years), gender ratio, anthropometric variables, diet quality, level of physical activity and sedentary behavior. The amount of 20mSRT laps (P adj =0.02), estimated VO2 max (45.0 (IQR 37.9-47.1) vs. 45.8 (IQR 43.1-48.0) ml·kg⁻ 1 ·min⁻ 1 , P adj =0.04), and pulse rate recovery (P adj =0.03) were significantly lower in ART participants after adjustment. HGS did not differ between groups.
Conclusion: This study indicates a significantly lower CRF in ART participants. Significant differences in muscle strength were not demonstrated between groups. Future studies should validate these results by using cardiopulmonary exercise testing for VO2 max assessment.