title: Late prematurity: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  this study aimed to review the literature regarding late preterm births (34 weeks to 36 weeks and 6 days of gestation) in its several aspects.
  
  
  METHODS
  the MEDLINE, LILACS, and Cochrane Library databases were searched, and the references of the articles retrieved were also used, with no limit of time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  numerous studies showed a recent increase in late preterm births. In all series, late preterm comprised the majority of preterm births. Studies including millions of births showed a strong association between late preterm birth and neonatal mortality. A higher mortality in childhood and among young adults was also observed. Many studies found an association with several neonatal complications, and also with long-term disorders and sequelae: breastfeeding problems, cerebral palsy, asthma in childhood, poor school performance, schizophrenia, and young adult diabetes. Some authors propose strategies to reduce late preterm birth, or to improve neonatal outcome: use of antenatal corticosteroids, changes in some of the guidelines for early delivery in high-risk pregnancies, and changes in neonatal care for this group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  numerous studies show greater mortality and morbidity in late preterm infants compared with term infants, in addition to long-term disorders. More recent studies evaluated strategies to improve the outcomes of these neonates. Further studies on these strategies are needed.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: machado_maria@uol.com.br.
authors: Luís Carlos
authors: LC
authors: Machado Júnior
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Passini Júnior
authors: Neonatology Division of the Department of Pediatrics, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors: Izilda
authors: I
authors: Rodrigues Machado Rosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Early neonatal mortality; Gravidez de alto risco; High-risk pregnancy; Infant mortality; Mortalidade infantil; Mortalidade neonatal; Mortalidade neonatal precoce; Neonatal mortality; Preterm labor; Trabalho de parto prematuro