title: Respiratory consequences of late preterm birth.
abstract: In developed countries most preterm births occur between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation. Deliveries during this 'late preterm' period are increasing and, since even mild prematurity is now recognised to be associated with adverse health outcomes, this presents healthcare challenges. Respiratory problems associated with late preterm birth include neonatal respiratory distress, severe RSV infection and childhood wheezing. Late preterm birth prematurely interrupts in utero lung development and is associated with maternal and early life factors which adversely affect the developing respiratory system. This review considers 1) mechanisms underlying the association between late preterm birth and impaired respiratory development, 2) respiratory morbidity associated with late preterm birth, particularly long-term outcomes, and 3) interventions which might protect respiratory development by addressing risk factors affecting the late preterm population, including maternal smoking, early life growth restriction and vulnerability to viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Experimental Sciences Academic Unit, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; NIHR Southampton Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; University College London, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street London WC1N 1EH, UK. Electronic address: katypike@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Katharine C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Pike
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Experimental Sciences Academic Unit, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; NIHR Southampton Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: jlucas1@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jane S A
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lucas
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D047928:Premature Birth; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Asthma; Infant; Intervention.; Outcome; Premature; Respiratory Function tests