Preterm Birth and Postnatal Developmental Outcomes

Abstract

Premature birth is a pathological condition that requires high-quality medical care due to the infants’ low body mass and gestational age, as well as morphofunctional immaturity. Moreover, such children are at great risk for retardation of mental development; metabolic, cardiovascular, and malignant diseases; and many other health problems at a later age. Early and late complications of preterm birth depend significantly on the gestational age at birth and the intrauterine development conditions of the fetus. Due to the more severe and complicated course of perinatal pathologies, premature babies with fetal growth retardation syndrome constitute a larger risk group. Approximately 50–70% of these children receive long-term treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit after birth. Furthermore, 70% of them face behavioral and memory problems in later life. While the pathologies of the neonatal period in children born prematurely are mainly related to respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, and nutritional problems, the complications of premature birth are manifested in children’s early age, preschool, school, adolescence, and other developmental periods.