The Effects of Preterm Birth and Associated Neonatal Interventions on Cardiac Structure in Early Postnatal Life

Babies born preterm are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. This thesis has shown that preterm birth combined with modern clinical treatments results in structural and biochemical alterations in the heart. These changes may render individuals born preterm vulnerable to cardiac dysfunction and disease in adulthood. The pre-clinical findings from this thesis add to a growing recognition that preterm birth disrupts the growth and development of many organs, resulting in long-term adverse health consequences.