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[Long-term prognosis of former very and extremely preterm babies in adulthood in Germany]
H M Strassburg1, S Leimer, A Platz
1Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Würzburg. Strassburg_H@kinderklinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
Insights
Adults born very preterm in Germany show good quality of life, with no significant differences compared to peers. This study tracked outcomes for individuals born with very low birth weight (<1500g) and extremely preterm (<32 weeks).
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Previous studies on the long-term prognosis of very and extremely preterm infants in Germany were limited to puberty.
- Known risks for these infants include cognitive deficits, cerebral palsy, and sensory impairments, often correlated with gestational age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term outcomes and quality of life in adulthood for individuals born very preterm in Germany.
- To compare the quality of life of former preterm infants with a control cohort.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from 291 individuals born between 1979-1986 across 10 German children's hospitals.
- Utilized a quality of life questionnaire (KIDDO KINDL) assessing physical, psychological wellness, and daily functioning.
- Compared outcomes with a normal cohort and analyzed differences between East and West German hospital births.
Main Results:
- A notable increase in survival rates was observed after 1982.
- Educational attainment included 27% with "Abitur" (highest grade), 37% with high school degrees, and 22% with normal degrees.
- Health issues reported: 22% chronic bronchitis, 54% spectacles, 19% regular physiotherapy.
- Quality of life scores showed no significant differences compared to a normal cohort.
Conclusions:
- Adults born very preterm in Germany, who participated in this study, report a quality of life not significantly worse than individuals without perinatal risk factors.
- Further national multicenter studies are crucial for detailed analysis of influencing factors on long-term prognosis, especially for infants born under 1000g.
Abstract:
Previous studies about the prognosis of former very and extremely small preterm babies (birthweight <1500 g, gestational age <32 weeks) in Germany only reached till puberty. Well known are significant increases of cognitive deficits, cerebral palsy and sensory impairments in correlation with gestational age and compared with term newborns. After a pilot project at the Children's University Hospital in Wuerzburg we collected the data of 291 people from 10 different children's Hospitals in Germany who were born between Jan 1st 1979 and Dec 31st 1986. We could recognize a clear increase of surviving babies after 1982. 50 (17%) of them had a birth weight under 1000 g. 27% finished school with the highest grade ("Abitur"), 37% with a high school degree and 22% with a normal degree. Most of them are still in an occupational training. 22% referred about chronic bronchitis, 54% need spectacles, 19% have regular physiotherapy. By a questionnaire about the quality of life (KIDDO KINDL) we recorded criteria in the fields of physical and psychological wellness and the all day functioning which were without significant differences to a normal cohort. In addition there was no difference in the quality of life criteria between former preterm babies born in West-Germany and those born in East-German hospitals. Further analyses of these results are necessary. In conclusion we could find that quality of life in those former very preterm babies in Germany who are now in adulthood and took part in our study is not significantly worse in comparison with people without any risk factors in the perinatal period. For more exact analysis of many influencing factors on the long term prognosis of former very preterm babies a national multicenter study is absolutely necessary, especially for preterms under 1000 g birthweight.
