Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Intratracheal Instillation of Stem Cells in Term Neonatal Rats
04:27

Intratracheal Instillation of Stem Cells in Term Neonatal Rats

Published on: May 4, 2020

Long-term respiratory outcomes of infants born moderate to late preterm

Cassidy Du Berry1, Luke Howlin2, Sarah J Kotecha3

  • 1Respiratory Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Foundations of Lung Disease, Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

Paediatric Respiratory Reviews
|July 7, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Moderate to late preterm birth impacts lifelong respiratory health, increasing risks for asthma and COPD. This review highlights the need for further research into these long-term respiratory consequences.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Neonatology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Moderate to late preterm birth (32 to <37 weeks' gestation) constitutes over 80% of global preterm births.
  • Long-term respiratory outcomes of moderate to late preterm birth are less understood compared to very preterm birth.
  • These infants face increased neonatal respiratory issues and childhood respiratory infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the lifelong respiratory consequences of moderate to late preterm birth.
  • To present current data on expiratory airflow in this population through meta-analysis.
  • To identify research priorities for prematurity-associated lung disease (PLD) in moderate to late preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on respiratory outcomes in moderate to late preterm infants.
  • Meta-analysis of contemporary estimates of expiratory airflow.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding respiratory morbidity, infection susceptibility, and chronic disease risk.

Main Results:

  • Infants born moderate to late preterm exhibit higher rates of wheeze and asthma.
  • Evidence suggests modest expiratory airflow decrements and impaired gas transfer.
  • Increased risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in mid-adulthood is indicated.

Conclusions:

  • Moderate to late preterm birth is a significant risk factor for long-term respiratory morbidity, including COPD.
  • Further mechanistic, interventional, and translational research is crucial for this large population.
  • Understanding and addressing PLD in moderate to late preterm infants is essential for lifelong respiratory health.

Keywords:
COPDExpiratory airflowLower respiratory tract infectionLung functionModerate to late pretermPreterm

Related Concept Videos

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
Breathing01:05

Breathing

The process of breathing, inhaling and exhaling, involves the coordinated movement of the chest wall, the lungs, and the muscles that move them. Two muscle groups with important roles in breathing are the diaphragm, located directly below the lungs, and the intercostal muscles, which lie between the ribs. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and creating more room for the lungs to expand. When the intercostal muscles contract, the ribs...
Acute Respiratory Failure-III01:30

Acute Respiratory Failure-III

Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without causing...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV01:23

Acute Respiratory Failure-IV

Respiratory failure can manifest suddenly or gradually, characterized by a rapid decline in PaO2 and a rapid rise in PaCO2. This situation indicates a severe respiratory problem that may quickly become a life-threatening emergency. One of the early signs of hypoxemic Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) is a change in mental status due to the brain's sensitivity to oxygen levels and changes in acid-base balance. Symptoms such as restlessness, confusion, and agitation suggest inadequate oxygen...
Atelectasis II: Pathophysiology01:10

Atelectasis II: Pathophysiology

Atelectasis develops when alveoli lose their air and collapse inward. Because lung tissue is naturally elastic, these air sacs shrink rather than remaining open. Collapsed alveoli are no longer ventilated, reducing their role in gas exchange. Blood flow may continue in these regions, creating a ventilation–perfusion mismatch. Clinical findings include decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, reduced chest expansion, and decreased tactile fremitus as sound transmission through collapsed...