Those who were born prematurely should be more cautious about their health. Experts say there’s a higher chance of mortality in young adulthood because of it.
Researchers studied the link between preterm gestational age at birth and the causes of death for young adults born prematurely. More than 1.5 million Norwegian men and women, ranging in age from 15 to 45, were tracked over a 30-year period.
Hailing from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and the Yale School of Public Health, researchers discovered that those born before 34 weeks gestation saw a 50 percent increase in their chances of death compared to adults born at term.
Two-thirds of those deaths occurred from accidents, violence and other external causes. The study was published in the journal PLoS ONE.
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“Large Scandinavian and Nordic population-wide data sets are ideal for this type of research,” said study author and researcher, Michael B. Bracken, a professor emeritus at the Yale School of Public Health. “They will allow additional follow-up to address these questions as the cohort ages.”
An estimated 15 million babies are born too early, or before 37 weeks gestation, every year, according to the World Health Organization. Preterm birth rates continue to increase in many countries around the world.
Researchers also analyzed a subset of more than 29,000 siblings - with one child being a premie and the other born at term - to support their findings. The results show a increased risk of death from external causes for premature births before 34 weeks gestation compared to at-term births.
The study’s authors believe it’s possible that mental illness, cognitive skills and social well-being could play a part in this mortality. But more research is needed to be certain that these patterns are true signs in adults who were born premature.
