title: Healthcare utilization and health-related quality of life of adult survivors of preterm birth complicated by bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to characterize the impact of preterm birth, respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia on quality of life and healthcare utilization in adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mail survey on quality of life and respiratory health was sent to a list of potential subjects identified using the databases of the Régie de l'asssurance maladie du Québec. Four groups of adults born between 1987 and 1993 were compared: (i) preterm with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, (ii) preterm with respiratory distress syndrome, (iii) preterm without respiratory complications and (iv) term controls. As a complement, data from the governmental healthcare administrative databases were extracted for responders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the groups differed in their use of healthcare services and prescription drugs, no clinically significant difference was observed for Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), SF-36v2 and Medical Research Council (MRC) Dyspnea Scale scores. However, compared to term subjects, bronchopulmonary dysplasia subjects were less likely to access higher education and more likely to be either invalid or unemployed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to term subjects, subjects with a history of prematurity and respiratory distress syndrome or bronchopulmonary dysplasia had similar health-related quality of life and respiratory symptoms despite greater use of healthcare services and prescription drugs.
authors: Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Beaudoin
authors: Geneviève M
authors: GM
authors: Tremblay
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Croitoru
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Benedetti
authors: Jennifer S
authors: JS
authors: Landry
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011792:Quebec; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017741:Survivors