Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults (HeSVA)
We study the health and well-being of adults born preterm at very low birth weight.
Objectives
The overarching aim of the multidisciplinary study is to assess how being born preterm at very low birth weight (less than 1500 g) affects adult health and well-being and how individuals born preterm at very low birth weight transition to adulthood to become independent members of society. The results will be important in developing the treatment and follow-up after preterm birth and to uncover possible health risks people born preterm may face as adults.
Implementation
Neonatal intensive care as we know it today originates from the 1970s. HeSVA is one of the oldest follow-up studies of adults born preterm at very low birth weight.
The study includes all infants who were born weighing less than 1500 g in the Uusimaa district between 1978 and 1985 and treated at neonatal intensive care unit at Helsinki University Central Hospital. Of them, 166 participated in the first adult follow-up in 2004-2005. That study included also 172 control participants born at term. A proportion of these participants has later taken part in follow-up studies.
The study has included a detailed health assessment consisting of measurements of cardiometabolic risk factors, lung function and bone mineral density, neuropsychological examination and detailed questionnaires assessing lifestyle, mental health and well-being and social relationships.
Together with our collaborators we have found that most adults born preterm at Very Low Birth Weight live healthy lives. However, on average they have higher levels of the aforementioned risk factors, and many of them have various challenges in social development and relationships. We are currently performing more detailed studies in smaller groups to uncover mechanisms that underlie these findings and may serve as targets for prevention of these risks.
In 2019-2021, when the study participants were approximately 35 to 40 years of age, we conducted a new follow-up visit in which repeated many of the assessments performed at the first adult visit in 2004-2005. By doing so we aim to learn how the factors related to health and well-being develop with increasing age. The study included assessments of eye health and motor function which wave not been previously studied. This new study was performed in close collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. A Norwegian cohort has undergone similar assessments, and we analyse the results together with our Norwegian collaborators. Altogether 137 participants born preterm at very low birth weight and 158 participants born at term attended the study in Helsinki or Trondheim. This increases the accuracy and reproducibility of the findings. First results of the study are assumed to be published during 2023.
Partners
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine; Helsinki University Hospital; University of Oulu, Faculty of Medicine; LIKES Research Centre; Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; APIC Adults Born Preterm International Collaboration; RECAP Research on Children and Adults Born Preterm EU Horizon 2020 consortium
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Funding
European Commission, Academy of Finland, , Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Foundation for Pediatric Research, Foundation of Wiipuri Student Nation, Juho Vainio Foundation, Foundation for Diabetes Research, Signe ja Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation, Foundation for Respiratory Diseases Research, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, Alli Paasikivi Foundation, Silmä Foundation and Silmä- ja kudospankki Foundation.
Data protection
The register keeper of the study is National Institute for Health and Welfare. The responsible principle investigator is Professor, Research Manager Eero Kajantie. Data collected in the study are processed by researchers at National Institute for Health and Welfare and University of Helsinki. To attain the aims of the project, the data are also processed in national and international collaborative projects together with data from other follow-up studies. Data are processed such that it is not possible to directly identify individuals. Access to data is protected by username and password. The data are confidential.
Personal data are processed for scientific research. Data are stored for the duration of possible follow-up examinations. The need to store data is evaluated on a regular basis.
Contact information
Follow-up study at 35-40 years:
Eero Kajantie
Research Manager, Professor of life course medicine
tel. +358 29 52 48610
[email protected]
Maarit Kulmala
Study Physician, Specialist in ophthalmology
THL and HUS Department of Ophthalmology
[email protected]
Laura Jussinniemi
PhD Student, Master of Health Sciences
[email protected]
Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults in General:
Eero Kajantie
Research Manager, Professor of life course medicine
tel. +358 29 52 48610
[email protected]
Petteri Hovi
Title of Docent, Senior Researcher
tel. +358 29 524 8941
[email protected]
Data Protection Officer
tietosuoja(at)thl.fi
Data protection legislation grants the study participant specific rights that the participant may exercise to ensure privacy as one of fundamental rights. Should you wish to exercise these rights, please contact kirjaamo(at)thl.fi
You have the right to make an appeal to the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman, if you consider that prevailing data protection legislation has not been followed when your personal data have been used.
Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman
Street address: Ratapihantie 9, 6th floor, 00520 Helsinki
Mail address: PL 800, 00521 Helsinki
Telephone: +358 29 566 6700
Telefax +358 29 566 6735
E-mail: tietosuoja(at)om.fi
