Introduction Suspected preterm labour (SPL) is an obstetric complication that occurs in 9% of all pregnancies and is the leading cause of antenatal hospital admissions. More than half of women with SPL deliver a premature baby which is a known risk factor for developing cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in childhood and later in adult life. On the other hand, the other half of these women will deliver at term, labelled as ‘false preterm labour’. Although this has been thought to be a benign condition, accumulating evidence reported in recent years showed long-term effects for the foetus, neonate and infant even when birth occurs at term. However, the impact of SPL on cardiovascular and metabolic programming has not been studied yet. The aim of this prospective cohort study is to evaluate the impact of SPL on cardiac remodelling and function and on cardiovascular and metabolic profiles independently of gestational age at birth. Methods and analysis Prospective cohort study of subjects exposed and not exposed to an episode of SPL. Women with singleton pregnancies who are admitted at a tertiary hospital due to SPL and matched controls will be recruited. Evaluation of cardiovascular remodelling by foetal echocardiography will be performed during admission. Cord blood will be collected at birth in order to analyse different metabolomic footprints and several cardiovascular and metabolic risk biomarkers. Moreover, children will undergo an echocardiography 6 months after birth. The relationship between SPL and cardiovascular and metabolic programming will be modelled considering different covariates such as socioeconomic factors, perinatal characteristics, lifestyle, diet and exercise. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was granted in April 2020 from CEIC Aragón (CEICA) (C.P.-C.I. PI20/136). Study outcomes will be disseminated at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Trial registration number NCT05670665.

Introduction: Suspected preterm labor (SPL), defined as the presence of regular and painful uterine contractions and cervical shortening, represents a prenatal insult with potential long-term consequences. However, despite recent evidence demonstrating suboptimal neurodevelopment at 2 years in this population, it remains underestimated as a significant risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders or other chronic diseases. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of suspected preterm labor during pregnancy on cardiometabolic profile and neurodevelopment during childhood (6–8 years). Methods and analysis: Prospective cohort study including children whose mothers suffered suspected preterm labour during pregnancy and paired controls. Neurodevelopmental, cardiovascular, and metabolic assessments will be performed at 6–8 years of age. A trained psychologist will carry out the neurodevelopment assessment including intelligence, visual perception, and behavioral assessment. Body composition and physical fitness assessment will be performed by one trained pediatrician and nurse. Finally, cardiovascular evaluation, including echocardiography and blood pressure, will be performed by two pediatric cardiologists. Data regarding perinatal and postnatal characteristics, diet, lifestyle, and weekly screen time of the child will be obtained from medical history and direct interviews with families. Primary outcome measures will include body mass index and adiposity, percentage of fat mass and total and regional lean mass, bone mineral content and density, cardiorespiratory resistance, isometric muscle strength, dynamic lower body strength, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left ventricle (LV) systolic and diastolic function, general intelligence index, visuospatial working memory span, oculomotor control test, index of emotional, and behavioral problems.