Abstract
Rates of preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) are increasing worldwide. Improved perinatal care has markedly increased survival of very (<32 weeks gestation) and extremely (<28 weeks gestation) preterm infants, however, long term respiratory sequalae are common among survivors. Importantly, individual's lung function trajectories are determined early in life and tend to track over the life course. Preterm infants are impacted by antenatal, postnatal and early life perturbations to normal lung growth and development, potentially resulting in significant shifts from the “normal” lung function trajectory. This review summarizes what is currently known about the long-term lung function trajectories in survivors of preterm birth. Further, this review highlights how antenatal, perinatal and early life factors are likely to contribute to individual lung health trajectories across the life course.
Highlights
Recent studies of lung health throughout childhood, adolescence and early-adulthood have ignited debate that survivors of very preterm birth are destined for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a debilitating and life threatening lung disease with few effective treatments [2,3,4]
This review aims to explore what is currently known about the long-term lung function trajectories in survivors of preterm birth and to investigate the factors contributing to individual lung health trajectories
This may suggest that survivors of preterm birth with a history of antenatal smoking exposure are at risk of an earlier decline in their lung function trajectories, more longitudinal studies are required to quantify this
Summary
Rates of preterm birth (
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