title: Early and long-term outcome of infants born extremely preterm.
abstract: There is no question that birth at extremely low gestational ages presents a significant threat to an infant's survival, health and development. Growing evidence suggests that gestational age may be conceptualised as a continuum in which births before 28 weeks of gestation (extremely preterm: EP) represent the severe end of a spectrum of health and developmental adversity. Although comprising just 1%-2% of all births, EP deliveries pose the greatest challenge to neonatal medicine and to health, education and social services for the provision of ongoing support for survivors with additional needs. Studying the outcomes of these infants remains critical for evaluating and enhancing clinical care, planning long-term support and for advancing our understanding of the life-course consequences of immaturity at birth. Here we review literature relating to early and long-term neurodevelopmental, cognitive, behavioural and educational outcomes following EP birth focusing on key themes and considering implications for intervention.
authors: Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: Johnson
authors: Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Neil
authors: N
authors: Marlow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000469:parasitology; D004522:Educational Status; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cognitive development; neurodevelopmental disability; outcomes; preterm; special educational needs