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Epidemiology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Linda J Van Marter1

  • 1Children's Hospital and Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. linda.vanmarter@childrens.harvard.edu

Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
|September 29, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a serious lung condition affecting very preterm infants, leading to long hospital stays and increased mortality. This review examines BPD

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease affecting preterm infants.
  • It is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population.
  • BPD necessitates prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stays and is linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the epidemiology and definition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
  • To evaluate current evidence on preventive strategies for BPD in very preterm infants.
  • To discuss the role of non-invasive respiratory support, inhaled nitric oxide, vitamin A, and caffeine in BPD prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on BPD epidemiology, definition, and prevention.
  • Analysis of evidence for specific preventive interventions.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on BPD management and treatment.

Main Results:

  • BPD affects approximately 25% of infants born with low birth weight (<1500g).
  • Key preventive strategies include non-invasive respiratory support, vitamin A supplementation, and caffeine therapy.
  • Inhaled nitric oxide shows limited efficacy in preventing BPD.

Conclusions:

  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a critical challenge in neonatal care.
  • Early implementation of preventive measures is crucial for improving outcomes in preterm infants.
  • Further research is needed to optimize BPD prevention and management strategies.

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