Difference between Preterm Birth in Adolescent and Adult Patients

Background: Preterm delivery represents an important public health problem due to its neonatal outcomes. There are numerous complications that occur due to prematurity, but the most significant one is represented by neonatal death. Even if the certain mechanism of prematurity is elusive, there are various risk factors known to be involved in the etiology of preterm birth, among which one is young age. Objectives: The present study aims to find whether preterm delivery has a higher rate in adolescent patients and if neonatal outcomes are different in adolescent and adult patients. Patients and methods:We performed an observational retrospective study about preterm infants from adolescent and adult patients. Thus, we analyzed 96 patients aged between 13 and 38 years who delivered in our unit between October 1st 2018 and December 31st 2021. Patients were divided into two groups: a study group (n=59), which included adolescents who delivered preterm, and a control group (n=37), which comprised adult patients who delivered preterm. We evaluated the rate of prematurity of all births and among patients enrolled in the present study and the neonatal outcome by newborn's weight, one-minute newborn's Apgar score and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission. Results:In our study, the rate of prematurity was higher in adolescent patients, with a rate of 61.46%. The newborns' outcomes, analyzed by newborn's weight and one-minute Apgar score, were better in adolescent patients compared to adult ones. Therefore, newborns from adult patients needed neonatal intensive care more often, with a rate of 62.16%, while in the study group the percentage was 38.98%. The rate of antenatal care was higher in adult patients compared to adolescent ones (32.43% versus 27.12%). Conclusion:Adolescents have a higher risk of preterm delivery; however, their newborns have better outcomes than those of adult patients. The lack of antenatal care represents a risk factor for preterm delivery.