Chronic Conditions and Health Care Needs of Adolescents Born at 23 to 25 Weeks’ Gestation

Abstract

Adolescents born EPT have considerable long-term health and educational needs. Few had severe impairments that curtailed major activities of daily life.

Impact of major neonatal morbidities on adolescents born at 23–25 weeks of gestation

“…An earlier study on this cohort showed that significantly more EPT children than term‐born controls had chronic conditions, including functional limitations (47% vs 6%), compensatory dependency needs (59% vs 27%) and services above those routinely required by children (64% vs 25%) . That study found that severe functional limitations affected just 7/132 (5%) EPT children with NSI at 10–15 years of age and these included being blind, difficulties with feeding, dressing and washing or being unable to walk . Table shows the consequences of chronic conditions identified in the three QUICCC domains in children with BPD, severe ROP and brain injuries, based on 132 of 134 (99%) survivors at 10–15 years as two declined to take part.…”

“…These included functional limitations, such as mental or emotional delays, the need for special services and spending reduced time and effort on activities, including being unable to play sports. It also included special arrangements in mainstream schools, full‐time separate classroom instructions, physical, occupational or other therapy and individual rehabilitation plans . In the multivariate models, the risk of having more than one consequence from chronic conditions in all three domains of the QUICCC was significantly higher among EPT children with BPD and brain injuries in the whole cohort and for BPD in the NSI‐free children.…”

“…The perinatal characteristics of the cohort have previously been described, together with the neonatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes and the chronic conditions in adolescence . Cranial ultrasonography was performed on all 140 infants at least twice in the 3–10 days after birth and repeated between days 21 and 35 and before discharge at 35–40 weeks of gestation.…”

“…The second was the consequences of chronic conditions at 10–15 years of age. We have previously described the methods for identifying and characterising NSIs and NDDs and the consequences of chronic conditions, such as functional limitations, compensatory dependency needs and service use over and above routine provision, in the survivors at 10–15 years of age .…”

Association of physical activity and cardiorespiratory function or BMI and body composition in preterm‐born individuals: a systematic review

“…Preterm birth can be regarded as a chronic health condition that has the potential to lead to functional limitations like intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, other motor problems and psychiatric conditions . Additionally, research has shown an increased risk of impaired lung function , reduced cardiorespiratory fitness and more cardio‐metabolic risk factors .…”