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Improved survival in extremely premature infants highlights concerns about long-term health complications. This review examines major morbidities like developmental disability and chronic lung disease in survivors.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Improved survival rates for extremely premature infants necessitate understanding long-term outcomes.
- Quality of life for survivors of extreme prematurity is a growing concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review major long-term complications of prematurity.
- To provide an overview of the broader spectrum of morbidity in survivors.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on developmental disability, retinopathy of prematurity, and chronic lung disease.
- Analysis of severe and lesser morbidities in extremely premature infant survivors.
Main Results:
- Severe impairments (e.g., cerebral palsy, mental retardation) affect a small proportion of survivors.
- Prevalence of lesser morbidities (e.g., learning disability, rehospitalization) is less defined but significant.
- These morbidities impact families and healthcare/educational services.
Conclusions:
- While severe outcomes are infrequent, a range of lesser morbidities impact survivors of extreme prematurity.
- Further research is needed to clearly define the prevalence and impact of these lesser morbidities.
- Addressing the long-term needs of these children is crucial for families and support systems.
Abstract:
The improved survival of extremely premature infants has generated intense interest in the quality of life of the survivors. This review focuses on the major long-term complications of prematurity (developmental disability, retinopathy of prematurity, chronic lung disease) and concludes with an overview of the broader spectrum of morbidity. Severe impairment (cerebral palsy, mental retardation, retrolental fibroplasia, severe chronic lung disease) fortunately occurs in a small proportion of survivors. However, the prevalence of the lesser morbidities (minimal cerebral dysfunction/learning disability, poor growth, postneonatal illnesses, rehospitalization) is less clearly defined. These problems all have an impact on families, and on medical and educational services.