Wide-ranging problems in children born before 24 weeks gestation

Date:
March 23, 2022
Source:
University of Gothenburg
Summary:
In a study of children born after a pregnancy of less than 24 weeks,
nearly all (96 percent) proved to have any of the diagnoses studied.

According to the study neuropsychiatric and somatic diagnoses are
prevalent as these extremely preterm infants grow into adulthood.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
In a study of children born after a pregnancy of less than 24
weeks, nearly all (96 percent) proved to have any of the diagnoses
studied. According to the study, lead from the University of Gothenburg, neuropsychiatric and somatic diagnoses are prevalent as these extremely
preterm infants grow into adulthood.


==========================================================================
The findings are now published in the scientific journal Acta
Paediatrica. The study was based on data in national registers and
hospital journals on almost every child born in Sweden in 2007-2018,
before the 24th week of gestation, who survived after birth up to what
would have been full term (40 weeks).

Altogether, the study comprises 399 children. At follow-up, they were
aged 2 to 13 years.

More than half need habilitation Among these children born before 24
weeks of pregnancy,
* 75 percent had neuropsychiatric impairments, such as some degree of
development disorder (40 percent); Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder, ADHD (30 percent); and Autism (24 percent).

* 55 percent required habilitation support.

* 88 percent had other medical diagnoses, such as Asthma (63
percent) or
postnatal growth restriction (39 percent).

* 17 percent had Cerebral Paresis.

Major support needs The study shows the marked need for special support
for the most immature children, born extremely preterm, and highlights
the need for long-term habilitation.



========================================================================== "This is about the tiniest babies born, who wouldn't have survived without modern neonatal care," says Professor Ann Hellstro"m of Sahlgrenska
Academy, University of Gothenburg, the last author of the publication.

"Being born extremely preterm has long-term repercussions. Awareness needs
to increase for society at large to provide sufficient resources during adolescence and later in life, manage morbidity, structure follow-up
programs, and support for disabilities." More survivors Over the past
20 years, the survival rate among extremely premature babies has risen
sharply, especially in those born in gestational weeks 22 and 23 . Thus,
health care today can save the lives of children born more than four
months too early. Enhanced survival has resulted in more knowledge of
brain development among these children, and how their cognition, motor
skills, hearing, and vision are affected.

This study is the first to provide a comprehensive picture of the
prevalence of various diagnoses in the most immature of extremely preterm infants, and the expected substantial impact on the children's lives,
in a single nationwide set of research data.

"Doctors and other health professionals need to be aware of the many
health and developmental problems that affect these children. Health
care services also need resources to identify their long-term treatment
and support needs at an early stage," Hellstro"m points out.

The study was conducted in a national collaboration among researchers
focusing on newborns (neonatology) and medical conditions relating
to the eye (ophthalmology). The corresponding author is Professor Ann Hellstro"m of Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, while the
first author is neonatologist Eva Morsing of Lund University.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Gothenburg. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Eva Morsing, Pia Lundgren, Anna‐Lena Haard, Alexander
Rakow, Lena
Hellstro"m‐Westas, Lena Jacobson, Mats Johnson,
Staffan Nilsson, Lois E.H. Smith, Karin Sa"vman, Ann
Hellstro"m. Neurodevelopmental disorders and somatic diagnoses in a
national cohort of children born before 24 weeks of gestation. Acta
Paediatrica, 2022; DOI: 10.1111/ apa.16316 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220323101244.htm

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