Adult outcome of extremely preterm infants

Abstract

Survival rates for extremely preterm (<28 weeks' gestational age) infants have increased and are approaching 3 in 4 with the advent of modern perinatal and neonatal intensive care. In contrast with some children with chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, most survivors of extreme prematurity have no ongoing health issues. However, as a group, they do have higher rates of adverse health outcomes, and more of them will present to pediatricians over time and, ultimately, to adult physicians as they grow older. Pediatricians can aid the transition to adult health care by being aware of the nutritional, cardiovascular, respiratory, motor, cognitive, psychiatric, and functional outcomes into adulthood of survivors of extreme prematurity.