Long-term outcome following preterm birth

Infants born very early and/or much smaller than expected are at risk of higher ratesof mortality and morbidity. A range of medical complications during the perinatalperiod pose a challenge for neonatal intensive care units (NICU), and follow-upstudies demonstrate that this population is at increased risk for cognitive, behavioral,and emotional problems (Bhutta, Cleves, Casey, Cradock, & Anand, 2002). Theoutcomes for those born at the most immature end of this population are at evengreater risk, and the survival of these infants has increased dramatically with theadvances in perinatal care over the past half-century (Doyle, 2004a; Horbar et al.,2002; Noble, 2003). This chapter reviews the issues associated with prematurityfrom the perinatal period throughout childhood and adolescence.