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Higher Risk for Death Following Preterm Birth Lasts for Decades

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 26, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Nov. 26, 2024 -- Individuals born preterm have an increased risk for death from birth through their third and fourth decades of life, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in JAMA Network Open.

Asma M. Ahmed, Ph.D., M.D., M.P.H., from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and colleagues examined associations between preterm birth (PTB) and all-cause and cause-specific mortality from birth through 23 to 36 years of age. The analysis included data from nearly 5.0 million live births in Canada (1983 through 1996, with follow-up through 2019).

The researchers found that during a median 29 years of follow-up, PTB was associated with an increased risk for death at all age intervals, with the highest risk seen from birth through infancy (ages 0 to 11 months; risk difference [RD], 2.29 percent; risk ratio [RR], 11.61) and in early childhood (ages 1 to 5 years; RD, 0.34 percent; RR, 2.79). The lowest risk was seen among those ages 18 to 28 years (RD, 0.07 percent; RR, 1.13). Lower risks were seen with higher gestational age. An increased risk for mortality was associated with respiratory, circulatory, and digestive system disorders; nervous system, endocrine, and infectious diseases; cancers; congenital malformations; and conditions originating in the perinatal period. There were no associations for external causes of deaths.

"These findings suggest that PTB should be recognized as a risk factor for mortality and could inform preventive strategies," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

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