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Adults born preterm: a review of general health and system-specific outcomes
Tonse N K Raju1, A Sonia Buist2, Carol J Blaisdell3
1Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Portland, OR, USA.
Insights
Most adults born preterm are healthy, but some face increased risks for neurological, behavioral, and cardiovascular issues. Prematurity degree impacts long-term health outcomes, highlighting the need for lifelong monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Health
- Long-term Health Outcomes
- Public Health
Background:
- Preterm birth affects a significant number of infants globally.
- Long-term health trajectories for preterm survivors are not fully understood.
- Understanding lifelong risks associated with preterm birth is crucial for healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the long-term health status of adults born preterm.
- To identify specific health risks and their prevalence in this population.
- To assess the impact of prematurity degree on adult health.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 126 publications.
- Analysis of health outcomes in adults born at preterm gestations.
- Comparison with term-born counterparts.
Main Results:
- The majority of adults born preterm are healthy.
- A significant fraction exhibit higher risks for neurological, personality, behavioral, cardio-pulmonary, and metabolic issues.
- Increased risks correlate with the degree of prematurity and were more noted in those born from the late 20th century onwards.
Conclusions:
- Preterm birth should be viewed as a chronic condition with potential for long-term morbidities.
- Gestational age and birth weight history are vital for all patient care.
- Proactive monitoring and management are essential for adults born preterm.
Abstract:
In this review of 126 publications, we report that an overwhelming majority of adults born at preterm gestations remain healthy and well. However, a small, but a significant fraction of them remain at higher risk for neurological, personality and behavioural abnormalities, cardio-pulmonary functional limitations, systemic hypertension and metabolic syndrome compared to their term-born counterparts. The magnitude of increased risk differed across organ systems and varied across reports. The risks were proportional to the degree of prematurity at birth and seemed to occur more frequently among preterm infants born in the final two decades of the 20th century and later. These findings have considerable public health and clinical practice relevance.
Conclusion:
Preterm birth needs to be considered a chronic condition, with a slight increase in the risk for long-term morbidities among adults born preterm. Therefore, obtaining a history of gestational age and weight at birth should be a routine part of care for patients of all age groups.
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