Health-related quality of life from 20 to 32 years of age in very low birth weight individuals: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Background Preterm birth with very low birth weight (VLBW, birth weight < 1500 g) is associated with health problems later in life. How VLBW individuals perceive their physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important to understand their putative burden of disease. Previous studies have shown mixed results, and longitudinal studies into adulthood have been requested. This study aimed to investigate differences in HRQoL between preterm VLBW and term born individuals at 32 years of age, and to study changes in HRQoL from 20 to 32 years. Methods In a geographically based longitudinal study, 45 VLBW and 68 term born control participants completed the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) at 32 years of age. Data from three previous timepoints was also available (20, 23 and 28 years of age). The SF-36 yields eight domain scores as well as a physical and a mental component summary. Between-group differences in these variables were investigated. We also performed subgroup analyses excluding individuals with disabilities, i.e., cerebral palsy and/or low estimated intelligence quotient. Results At 32 years of age, the physical component summary was 5.1 points lower (95% confidence interval (CI): 8.6 to 1.6), and the mental component summary 4.1 points lower (95% CI: 8.4 to − 0.3) in the VLBW group compared with the control group. For both physical and mental component summaries there was an overall decline in HRQoL from 20 to 32 years of age in the VLBW group. When we excluded individuals with disabilities (n = 10), group differences in domain scores at 32 years were reduced, but physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, and role-emotional scores remained lower in the VLBW subgroup without disabilities compared with the control group. Conclusion We found that VLBW individuals reported lower HRQoL than term born controls at 32 years of age, and that HRQoL declined in the VLBW group from 20 to 32 years of age. This was in part, but not exclusively explained by VLBW individuals with disabilities.

Outcomes at 7 Years of Age of Former Very Preterm Neonates with Repeated Surfactant Treatment for Prolonged Respiratory Distress in the Neonatal Period

“…In addition, although the patients themselves may not recognize a lower HRQoL, impaired functioning is often associated with parents reporting a lower HRQoL. Finally, in a longitudinal study, Berdal et al showed that VPN-born adults reported a lower HRQoL than term-born controls at 32 years of age, with a significant decline from 20 to 32 years of age, especially for VPN-born individuals with disabilities [32]. Therefore, one must be careful in evaluating the HRQoL early in life and stay aware of difficulties appearing later in life, which may benefit from appropriate support on a long-term basis.…”

The association of education gap among spouses and health-related quality of life: a population-based retrospective study

“…Furthermore, demography and socioeconomic status (SES) variables also affect HRQOL. In a longitudinal study, Elias found that the HRQOL of people with very low birth weight decreased signi cantly between the ages of 20 and 32 [12]. A study from Shanxi, China found that the HRQOL of urban populations is signi cantly higher than that of rural areas [13].…”