Preterm birth is a significant health burden affecting 10% of all births in the US every year. While the events surrounding birth and early acute care consume a significant portion of available resources, the consequences of long-term morbidities are now being appreciated. Most importantly, these morbidities affect the overall quality of life as preterm infants grow into adulthood. Scientists and clinicians are recognizing the former preterm infant as unique with deficits in multiple organs associated with interrupted development and a broad range of clinical presentations. Recent advances in neonatology have lowered the age of viability to younger and more immature infants, thus dramatically increasing the numbers of former preterm infants reaching adulthood. Current epidemiological studies have identified pulmonary, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurodevelopmental differences in former preterm later in life, relative to infants born at term, but more comprehensive data is needed to better identify this complex problem.
Former preterm neonates may be at a higher risk of chronic diseases of adulthood. Clinical and basic science research has sought to identify interventions, therapies, and changes in clinical practice to improve or alleviate long-term morbidities, but much work is still needed. The goal of this article collection is to provide a resource for current, state-of-the-art research into the long-term morbidities of premature birth.
This Research Topic will provide current information on the long-term effects of prematurity to neonatologists as well as practicing pediatricians and other clinicians caring for former preterm infants in adulthood. Topics on epidemiology, clinical and translational research, as well as basic science are welcome. We will welcome primary research articles as well as up-to-date reviews of the current literature. The goal is that this e-book will provide a resource for a better understanding of the adult consequences of being born preterm.
Preterm birth is a significant health burden affecting 10% of all births in the US every year. While the events surrounding birth and early acute care consume a significant portion of available resources, the consequences of long-term morbidities are now being appreciated. Most importantly, these morbidities affect the overall quality of life as preterm infants grow into adulthood. Scientists and clinicians are recognizing the former preterm infant as unique with deficits in multiple organs associated with interrupted development and a broad range of clinical presentations. Recent advances in neonatology have lowered the age of viability to younger and more immature infants, thus dramatically increasing the numbers of former preterm infants reaching adulthood. Current epidemiological studies have identified pulmonary, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurodevelopmental differences in former preterm later in life, relative to infants born at term, but more comprehensive data is needed to better identify this complex problem.
Former preterm neonates may be at a higher risk of chronic diseases of adulthood. Clinical and basic science research has sought to identify interventions, therapies, and changes in clinical practice to improve or alleviate long-term morbidities, but much work is still needed. The goal of this article collection is to provide a resource for current, state-of-the-art research into the long-term morbidities of premature birth.
This Research Topic will provide current information on the long-term effects of prematurity to neonatologists as well as practicing pediatricians and other clinicians caring for former preterm infants in adulthood. Topics on epidemiology, clinical and translational research, as well as basic science are welcome. We will welcome primary research articles as well as up-to-date reviews of the current literature. The goal is that this e-book will provide a resource for a better understanding of the adult consequences of being born preterm.
