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Review
. 2020 Mar;7(1):36-44.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijpam.2020.02.006. Epub 2020 Feb 25.

Late preterm infants - Changing trends and continuing challenges

Sreenivas Karnati  1 , Swapna Kollikonda  2 , Jalal Abu-Shaweesh  1
Affiliations
Review

Late preterm infants - Changing trends and continuing challenges

Sreenivas Karnati et al. Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Late preterm infants, defined as newborns born between 340/7-366/7 weeks of gestational age, constitute a unique group among all premature neonates. Often overlooked because of their size when compared to very premature infants, this population is still vulnerable because of physiological and structural immaturity. Comprising nearly 75% of babies born less than 37 weeks of gestation, late preterm infants are at increased risk for morbidities involving nearly every organ system as well as higher risk of mortality when compared to term neonates. Neurodevelopmental impairment has especially been a concern for these infants. Due to various reasons, the rate of late preterm births continue to rise worldwide. Caring for this high risk population contributes a significant financial burden to health systems. This article reviews recent trends in regarding rate of late preterm births, common morbidities and long term outcomes with special attention to neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Keywords: Late preterm infants; Neurodevelopmental outcomes; Prematurity; Respiratory disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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