A New Study Says Most Premature Babies Grow Into Adulthood Without Serious Health Complications

Good news for parents of premature babies! A new study found that a majority of people born prematurely reached adulthood with no serious health concerns or complications. 

The study out of Sweden examined preemies born from the 1970s to the 1990s. 

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Preterm births have steadily been on the rise in the U.S. over the past four years, so it’s no wonder that the medical community has expressed concerns over the long-term health effects that premature birth has on a person throughout their lifetime. 

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), looked at the health stats of those who were born preterm and looked for health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, neuropsychiatric disorders, and lung disease. To contrast, researchers also looked at those who were carried to term.

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Researchers found that 55% of those born prematurely were alive in 2015 with no serious health issues. To compare, the study showed that 63% of people who were born full-term were thriving with no serious health concerns. 

The study’s lead author, Dr. Casey Crump of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, told Reuters that the findings are proof that being born prematurely does not necessarily result in a lifetime of health complications. 

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“Our findings reflect the apparent resilience of preterm birth survivors in maintaining good health,” said Dr. Crump. “Despite increased risks of several chronic disorders, the majority can still have good overall health in adulthood.”