Adults born preterm: a review of general health and system-specific outcomes

Tonse N.K. Raju, A. Sonia Buist, Carol J. Blaisdell, Marva Moxey-Mims, Saroj Saigal

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

192 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1409-1437
Number of pages29
JournalActa Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
Volume106
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2017

Keywords

  • Adult health
  • Birth history
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Personality disorders
  • Preterm birth

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Adults born preterm: a review of general health and system-specific outcomes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this