Bioimpedence and Arterial Function Monitoring at Birth and in Infants: the BAMBI Study

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying differences in heart and artery structure and function among babies born appropriately grown for gestational age (AGA) and those born small for gestational age (SGA), including babies with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and maternal pre-eclampsia. The study will also examine how gestational age affects these heart and artery measurements, dividing participants into groups born before 32 weeks and those born at or after 32 weeks. The goal is to understand early changes that may relate to increased cardiovascular risks later in life. Participants include three groups: AGA infants, SGA infants, and FGR infants, each group divided evenly by gestational age (<32 weeks and ≥32 weeks). The study uses the Vicorder device to measure arterial stiffness and cardiac output, though its use for cardiac output in infants is still being evaluated. Cardiac output results from Vicorder will be compared to echocardiography and NICaS monitor measurements. Ultrasound is used to assess arterial structure, including the carotid artery and aorta. Babies will have measurements taken at birth and again at 3 to 6 months to observe changes over the first year of life. Researchers will evaluate the feasibility of obtaining these measurements using the devices and compare results across different groups. The primary outcome is the proportion of babies from whom measurements are successfully obtained. Secondary outcomes include arterial stiffness measures, arterial structure, and cardiac output comparisons between birth weight and gestational age groups and among measurement devices.

Bioimpedence and Arterial Function Monitoring at Birth and in Infants