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Long term respiratory outcomes of late preterm-born infants

Sarah J Kotecha1, Frank D Dunstan, Sailesh Kotecha

  • 1Department of Child Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. kotechas@cardiff.ac.uk

Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
|January 27, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Late preterm birth increases respiratory issues in newborns and may lead to reduced lung function later in life. More research is needed to understand the long-term respiratory effects in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal respiratory health
  • Pediatric pulmonology
  • Public health epidemiology

Background:

  • Rising rates of preterm birth globally, with late preterm births comprising a significant portion.
  • Late preterm infants are born with underdeveloped lungs, impacting surfactant and antioxidant systems.
  • Increased respiratory morbidity and higher risk of viral infections like RSV are noted in late preterm infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the respiratory risks associated with late preterm birth.
  • To underscore the limited data on lung function in late preterm children.
  • To emphasize the need for further investigation into medium and long-term respiratory outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on late preterm birth and respiratory health.
  • Analysis of current understanding of lung development at the saccular stage.
  • Identification of data gaps concerning infant and childhood lung function.

Main Results:

  • Late preterm infants exhibit increased respiratory morbidity during the neonatal period.
  • These infants face a higher risk of lower respiratory tract infections in infancy.
  • Available data suggest a potential for decreased lung function in later life.

Conclusions:

  • Late preterm birth poses significant respiratory challenges in the neonatal period.
  • There is a critical need for more research on the long-term respiratory health of children born late preterm.
  • Understanding these long-term effects is crucial for future clinical management and public health strategies.

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