Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
World J Pediatr. 2011 Aug;7(3):199-204. doi: 10.1007/s12519-011-0290-8. Epub 2011 Aug 7.
Preterm birth rate continues to rise around the world mainly at the expense of late preterm newborns, recently defined as births between the gestational age of 34 weeks and 36-6/7 weeks. Late preterm infants are considered to have significantly more short-term and longterm adverse outcomes than term infants.
Articles concerning morbidity, mortality and long-term outcomes of late preterm infants were retrieved from PubMed/MEDLINE published during the period of 2000-2010.
Late preterm infants are the fastest growing subgroup of neonates, comprising the majority of all preterm births. Compared with term infants, they have significantly higher risk of morbidity, mortality and adverse long-term outcomes well beyond infancy into adulthood. However, epidemiology and etiology of late preterm births, the magnitude of their morbidity, the long-term life quality, and public health impact have not been well studied.
The growing number of late preterm neonates substantiates the importance to better understand and medically approach this special preterm subgroup. A long-term evaluation, monitoring and follow-up of late preterm infants are needed to optimize neonatal care and improve human health status.
全世界的早产率持续上升，主要是以牺牲晚期早产儿为代价的，最近将晚期早产儿定义为妊娠 34 周至 36-6/7 周之间出生的婴儿。晚期早产儿被认为比足月婴儿有更多的短期和长期不良结局。
从 2000 年至 2010 年期间在 PubMed/MEDLINE 上发表的有关晚期早产儿发病率、死亡率和长期结局的文章中检索到了相关数据。
晚期早产儿是新生儿中增长最快的亚组，占所有早产儿的大多数。与足月婴儿相比，他们的发病率、死亡率和不良长期结局的风险明显更高，远远超出婴儿期进入成年期。然而，晚期早产儿的发病情况、发病程度、长期生活质量和公共卫生影响的流行病学和病因尚未得到充分研究。
越来越多的晚期早产儿证实了更好地理解和医学处理这一特殊早产儿亚组的重要性。需要对晚期早产儿进行长期评估、监测和随访，以优化新生儿护理并改善人类健康状况。
