Bethesda, MD
Description
Due to dramatic improvements in perinatal and neonatal care in most industrialized countries over the past few decades, more than 95% of infants born before 37 weeks of gestation survive. These “preterm” infants constitute about 10% of the adult population. Recent research has shown that this cohort is at a higher risk for developing a range of adverse medical and social problems, such as hypertension, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and kidney disorders, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and neuro-psychiatric and behavioral problems. Yet, these issues have not been widely appreciated by healthcare professionals caring for these adult patients.
Because even a modest increase (e.g., 10-20%) in risk for these chronic conditions can translate into a substantial population burden, the U.S. National Institutes of Health convened a conference of multi-disciplinary experts in August 2015 with the objective of elucidating the epidemiological, public health and societal burden of diseases among adults born preterm, while reviewing potential mechanisms and proposing educational and research priorities.