[Perception of the transition process from pediatric to adult care in preterm and full-term infants]

The number of premature births is rising globally, and medical needs are often complex. The transition from pediatric to adult healthcare is a critical phase that, without adequate support, may lead to difficulties. Especially extremely preterm infants face long-term health challenges requiring specialized care. This retrospective study examined how mothers perceive the transition process of their preterm and term-born children. We analyzed whether perinatal factors such as low gestational age (GA) influence transition experiences and adult healthcare. Additionally, healthcare utilization and comorbidities were compared between preterm and term-born adults. The Gutenberg Prematurity Study (GPS) retrospectively analyzed 310 preterm and 296 term-born adults (aged 18-52), categorized into GA groups (≥37, 33-36, 29-32,≤28 weeks). Multivariable logistic regression assessed associations between perinatal factors, transition ratings, and healthcare utilization. Mothers of children born at≤28 and 29-32 weeks GA rated the transition to adult healthcare more negatively than mothers of term-born children. In addition, care five years after transition was also rated significantly worse for the≤28 weeks group. Extremely preterm adults had more GP visits and more comorbidities, such as hypertension. Transition programs should be tailored to the needs of preterm individuals, especially those born extremely preterm, to improve long-term care and address comorbidities early.