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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Young adult outcomes of very-low-birth-weight children
1Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-6010, USA. mxh7@case.edu
Insights
Young adults who survived neonatal intensive care often experience lasting neurodevelopmental and growth issues, impacting education and physical health but not social or overall quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Longitudinal Health Outcomes
Background:
- Neonatal intensive care survivors represent a vulnerable population with potential long-term health sequelae.
- Previous studies on young adult outcomes have varied significantly in methodology and scope.
- Understanding persistent effects is crucial for improving long-term care and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize existing data on the young adult outcomes of neonatal intensive care survivors.
- To identify persistent neurodevelopmental, growth, and health-related challenges into young adulthood.
- To compare outcomes with normal-birth-weight controls.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and synthesis of international studies on neonatal intensive care survivors.
- Analysis of outcomes including neurodevelopment, growth, educational achievement, employment, general health, physical abilities, psychiatric status, and social life.
- Comparison of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) young adults with normal-birth-weight controls.
Main Results:
- Neurodevelopmental and growth deficits persist into young adulthood for neonatal intensive care survivors.
- Very-low-birth-weight young adults show poorer educational achievement and lower rates of post-high school study compared to controls.
- While employment rates are similar, survivors exhibit poorer physical abilities, higher blood pressure, and reduced respiratory function; anxiety and depression are more frequent.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal intensive care survivors face ongoing challenges, particularly VLBW individuals, affecting educational attainment and physical health.
- Neurosensory disabilities are a key factor in observed differences, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
- Further long-term research is essential to fully understand the impact of preterm birth and early growth on later life health.
Abstract:
Information on the young adult outcomes of the initial survivors of neonatal intensive care has been reported from the United States, Canada, Australia, Great Britain and other European countries. The studies have varied with regard to whether they were regional or hospital-based, their birth-weight group and gestational age, rates of survival, socio-demographic background, and measures of assessment and types of outcome studied. Despite these differences the overall results reveal that neurodevelopment and growth sequelae persist to young adulthood. Very-low-birth-weight young adults have, with few exceptions, poorer educational achievement than normal-birth-weight controls, and fewer continue with post-high-school study. Rates of employment are, however, similar. There are no major differences in general health status, but the young adults demonstrate poorer physical abilities, higher mean blood pressure and poorer respiratory function. There is no evidence of major psychiatric disorder, although anxiety and depression are reported more often. The young adults report less risk-taking than control populations. They report fairly normal social lives and quality of life. When differences are noted they are usually due to neurosensory disabilities. Longer-term studies are needed to evaluate ultimate educational and occupational achievement. It will also be important to assess the effects of preterm birth, early growth failure and catch-up growth on later metabolic and cardiovascular health.
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