New research from the Liggins Institute in Auckland offers a fresh look at how being born preterm impacts health in adulthood. The study found that adults born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation) had similar rates of diabetes, prediabetes, and dyslipidemia compared to those born at term.
Surprisingly, they also experienced fewer major cardiovascular events. However, preterm-born individuals were more likely to develop high blood pressure by age 50.
Preterm birth affects about one in ten births worldwide and has long been associated with higher risks for cardiovascular problems like hypertension and stroke.
However, much of the existing research has focused on older generations who lacked the benefits of modern neonatal care. This new study provides an updated understanding of how preterm birth affects health for individuals reaching midlife in an era of improved medical interventions.
The research followed participants from a trial of antenatal betamethasone, a medication given to pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery to improve newborn outcomes. The original trial was conducted at National Women’s Hospital in Auckland decades ago.
The recent follow-up included health questionnaires and a review of participants’ medical records to assess conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and major cardiovascular events.
The findings revealed that 34.7% of preterm-born adults had high blood pressure compared to 19.8% of those born at term.
Despite this, the preterm group showed a lower overall risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or strokes, with only 2.8% affected compared to 6.9% of term-born adults.
In terms of other health outcomes, the study found no significant differences in the rates of diabetes, prediabetes, or treated dyslipidemia. Respiratory health, chronic kidney disease prevalence, and educational attainment were also similar between the two groups.
Interestingly, mental health disorders were less common among preterm participants, with self-reported depression occurring less frequently than in term-born adults.
These results challenge the assumption that preterm birth inevitably leads to worse cardiovascular health outcomes.
The study suggests that the long-term impacts of preterm birth are more nuanced, particularly for those born at moderate gestational ages and in the era of antenatal corticosteroid use.
According to the researchers, the use of antenatal corticosteroids like betamethasone may have played a protective role in reducing severe complications for preterm infants, contributing to better long-term health outcomes.
This study highlights the importance of revisiting assumptions about preterm birth with contemporary data.
While high blood pressure remains a concern for preterm-born adults, the overall picture is more positive than previously believed, especially in terms of major cardiovascular events and mental health.
For families and healthcare providers, these findings provide reassurance that many preterm-born individuals can lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Continued research is needed to explore the underlying factors that contribute to these outcomes and to develop strategies for managing the specific risks associated with preterm birth.
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The research findings can be found in Pediatrics.
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