Long-term outcome of infants born late preterm

Abstract

Late preterm infants are defined as those born between 34(0/0) and 36(6/7) weeks of gestation. This population represents a growing proportion of preterm deliveries and traditionally has been neglected as thought to behave similarly to term infants. However, studies in the last decade have shown that they are vulnerable not only during the first few weeks of life but also later on in infancy and childhood. The aim of this review is to summarize the published literature in the field of the long-term outcomes of the late preterm delivery. The main areas that are affected are the respiratory function and the neurodevelopment of these babies due to the early arrest in the lung and brain development, respectively. Moreover, the overall general health of this population is affected in the long-term and ongoing follow up studies are required to provide a better understanding in the field. Continuous efforts should also be made so that the needs of these infants are recognized and managed in a timely appropriate manner.