Increasing rates of prematurity and epidemiology of late preterm birth

Preterm birth rates in Australia have risen in the last two decades, mostly accounted for by the rise in late preterm births. Late preterm births (34–36 weeks) comprise 70% of all preterm births, which translates to approximately 16 000 births annually in Australia. The precise causes for this trend...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of paediatrics and child health 2012-09, Vol.48 (9), p.784-788
Main Authors: Cheong, Jeanie LY, Doyle, Lex W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Australia - epidemiology
Children
Cognition
Developmental disabilities
educational burden
Epidemiology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
late preterm
Morbidity
Mortality
Pregnancy
Premature birth
Premature Birth - epidemiology
Premature Birth - etiology
Premature Birth - mortality
Public health
Reproductive technology
Risk factors
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Summary:Preterm birth rates in Australia have risen in the last two decades, mostly accounted for by the rise in late preterm births. Late preterm births (34–36 weeks) comprise 70% of all preterm births, which translates to approximately 16 000 births annually in Australia. The precise causes for this trend are unclear; however, possible aetiologies include increasing maternal age, increased use of artificial reproductive technologies and increased multiple births. Compared with term‐born children, late preterm children not only have increased mortality and in‐hospital morbidity including respiratory difficulties, but also long‐term cognitive, school performance, behaviour and psychiatric problems. The potential public health and educational burden of late preterm birth is considerable. More research is required in this area to understand the risk factors for late preterm birth and to help identify those children at highest risk of developmental deficits.
ISSN:1034-4810
1440-1754
DOI:10.1111/j.1440-1754.2012.02536.x