A baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered a premature birth. These babies have a high risk of infant mortality. But prior to this study it was believed that if preterm babies survived into childhood, they would not face significant health issues in later life.

Researchers at the Duke University Medical Center used Norwegian birth data for this study. Some 1 million babies born from 1967 to 1988 in Norway were assessed as a part of the study. Mortality data of these babies was tracked till 2002, while educational and reproductive data was analyzed till 2004.

Reporting in the March 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, lead researcher Dr Geeta Swamy and colleagues said:
* Boys born between 22 and 27 weeks of gestation had a 5.3 times higher death risk between ages 1 to 5 as compared to full-term babies. The risk of dying between ages 6 to 12.9 years was seven-fold higher in this group.
* Boys born between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation had a 2.5 times increased childhood death between ages 1 to 6 and a 2.3 percent increased childhood mortality risk between ages 6 to 12.9 years.

The mortality data for girls was also similar.
* Girls born between 22 and 27 weeks of gestation had a 9.3 times higher childhood death risk as compared to full-term babies.
* However the researchers did not note any increased death risk for girls born between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation.

Furthermore premature babies were found less likely to finish secondary education and go on to have their own babies. Men had a 76 percent reduced chance of having their own kids, while women had a 67 percent chance of getting pregnant and giving birth.

"If you are a parent who has a preterm child, following the first year of life, the mortality risk goes down," Dr Swamy said. "It's not a cause for significant alarm because the overall rate of mortality is still low, but you need to keep it in mind and make sure you're getting appropriate medical care and surveillance for your child,"

An article published in the July 20, 2005 issue of the Journal of American Medical Association says premature babies encounter the following problems in early life:
* Anemia
* Feeding problems
* Breathing problems
* Jaundice
* Issues with regulation of body temperature.
* Low birth weight

As the above study suggests, it is better for parents to constantly monitor the health of premature babies well into their adulthood.

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