Near-term/Late Preterm Infants

Background: Late preterm birth (34-36 weeks) infants are at greater risk of (2-3 fold) compared to near term or term babies. The present study was done with the purpose to examine related morbidities and outcomes among late preterm infants.Methods: The study included all late preterm babies (34 0/7 weeks-36 6/7 weeks) admitted to the Basaveshwar Teaching and General Hospital and Sangameshwar Hospital for a period of one and half year (December 2013-May 2015). Short term outcome was assessed in the form of neonatal morbidities and mortality during the study period.Results: A total of 203 late Preterm neonates comprised the study group. Male preponderance was noticed with a ratio of 1.5:1. This study confirmed that late-preterm infants are a population at risk of increased neonatal morbidity. Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy forms the major one followed by sepsis, respiratory distress, and feed intolerance. Majority of late preterm neonates required more than 7 days hospital duration.Conclusions: Late preterm infants suffer a large number of intercurrent medical problems during the neonatal period, especially increased likelihood of resuscitation in the delivery room, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, jaundice requiring phototherapy, respiratory pathologies, sepsis and feeding intolerance. Prolonging pregnancy to the maximum safest gestation will result in decrease in such morbidities.

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Late prematuriteit: een risicopopulatie?

Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde ◽

10.47671/tvg.77.21.075 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

B. DEVOCHT ◽

K. SMETS ◽

L. GARABEDIAN

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Relative Size ◽

Late Preterm ◽

Late Preterm Infant ◽

Term Infants ◽

Feeding Difficulties ◽

Developmental Problems ◽

Late Preterm Infants ◽

Near Term

Late preterm infant: a population at risk? Late preterm infants, infants born between 34 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation, were called near term before 2005, which may lead to the assumption that they are mature and an underestimation of their risks. Late preterm infants are physiologically and metabolically immature. Compared to term infants they have increased morbidity rates, including problems such as hypothermia, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, feeding difficulties and respiratory and immunological issues. In late preterm infants there are increased mortality rates, prolonged hospitalizations at birth, more readmissions and higher healthcare costs. The infants also have a higher risk of neurological and developmental problems and long-term respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic difficulties. Despite their relative size and apparently mature appearance, late preterm infants should not be treated like term infants. They require careful monitoring immediately after birth, as well as during childhood and even adolescence. Child-birth should not be scheduled during the late preterm period without medical indication. The risk of continuing the pregnancy must be weighed against the risk of premature birth. The prevention and a better monitoring of late preterm infants can lead to healthcare savings.

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Late Preterm Infants: Near Term But Still in a Critical Developmental Time Period

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.2013-1131 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 132 (4) ◽

pp. 741-751 ◽

Cited By ~ 121

Author(s):

A. Kugelman ◽

A. A. Colin

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Developmental Time ◽

Late Preterm ◽

Late Preterm Infants ◽

Time Period ◽

Near Term

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Late Preterm Infants Require Preventive Vigilance

Pediatric News ◽

10.1016/s0031-398x(08)70183-8 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

pp. 30-31

Author(s):

DOUG BRUNK

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Late Preterm ◽

Late Preterm Infants

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Early school-age outcomes of late preterm infants.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1159678.621076 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Helen Kay

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Late Preterm ◽

School Age ◽

Late Preterm Infants ◽

Early School ◽

Early School Age

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Respiratory distress management in moderate and late preterm infants: The NEOBS Study

Archives de Pédiatrie ◽

10.1016/j.arcped.2021.03.010 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

T. Debillon ◽

P. Tourneux ◽

I. Guellec ◽

P.-H. Jarreau ◽

C. Flamant

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Distress ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Late Preterm ◽

Late Preterm Infants

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Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 18 Months of Corrected Age for Late Preterm Infants Born at 34 and 35 Gestational Weeks

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18020640 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 640 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ruka Nakasone ◽

Kazumichi Fujioka ◽

Yuki Kyono ◽

Asumi Yoshida ◽

Takumi Kido ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Late Preterm ◽

Psychomotor Development ◽

Youden Index ◽

Chromosomal Anomalies ◽

Clinical Factors ◽

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes ◽

Late Preterm Infants ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Severe Hyperbilirubinemia

To date, the difference in neurodevelopmental outcomes between late preterm infants (LPI) born at 34 and 35 gestational weeks (LPI-34 and LPI-35, respectively) has not been elucidated. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months of corrected age for LPI-34 and LPI-35, and to elucidate factors predicting neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI). Records of all LPI-34 (n = 93) and LPI-35 (n = 121) admitted to our facility from 2013 to 2017 were reviewed. Patients with congenital or chromosomal anomalies, severe neonatal asphyxia, and without developmental quotient (DQ) data were excluded. Psychomotor development was assessed as a DQ using the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development at 18 months of corrected age. NDI was defined as DQ < 80 or when severe neurodevelopmental problems made neurodevelopmental assessment impossible. We compared the clinical characteristics and DQ values between LPI-34 (n = 62) and LPI-35 (n = 73). To elucidate the factors predicting NDI at 18 months of corrected age, we compared clinical factors between the NDI (n = 17) and non-NDI (n = 118) groups. No significant difference was observed in DQ values at 18 months of corrected age between the groups in each area and overall. Among clinical factors, male sex, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), hyperbilirubinemia, and severe hyperbilirubinemia had a higher prevalence in the NDI group than in the non-NDI group, and IVH and/or severe hyperbilirubinemia showed the highest Youden Index values for predicting NDI. Based on the results of this study, we can conclude that no significant difference in neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months of corrected age was observed between LPI-34 and LPI-35. Patients with severe hyperbilirubinemia and/or IVH should be considered to be at high risk for developing NDI.

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