Early birth is a chronic condition. Research has shown that an early birth has consequences even in adulthood.
Thus adult prematures experience more often:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Lung problems
- Neurological problems
- Mental problems
- Metabolism problems
Cardiovascular diseases
Prematures have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease early. However, there was no apparent increase in having a stroke or coronary heart disease such as heart attack.
Lung disorders
Pulmonary physicians from Erasmus MC, however, see that many prematures have had lung problems unnoticed throughout their lifetime. They have established the CPL poli where people can go if they have a (suspected) lung disease due to their early birth like bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The doctors indicate that in many cases they can treat this condition well with medication. On the page Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia find more information about the condition and the CPL poli.
Neurological problems
Prematures can experience various neurological problems. For example, they may have more problems with plans, calculations, executive functions (planing and steering activities), running short-term memory, working memory
In a large part of the cases a person has suffered brain damage or injury as a baby, but thanks to the plasticity of the brain they have been able to develop normally. In these cases no differences were found in the functioning of prematures and on time.
Mental problems
In the area of personality prematures are more often cautious, feel less negative emotions, are more often shy and dutiful. They also show less criminal or risky behaviour and less smoking, drinking or using drugs.
However, prematures experience more difficulty in engaging and maintaining friendships and relationships, possibly because of their withdrawn character. They also experience more anxiety and depression during the transition from child to adulthood.
Metabolism
In the area of metabolism, researchers see that premature type 2 diabetes is more common at young age. Early birth can also have a detrimental effect on kidney development. It can disrupt the further growth of a kidney.
What's the cause?
It is quite possible that the above cases can be explained by several things. First, we look at the pregnancy itself. Here are the genes that someone gets from their parents and grandparents an important influence. In addition, any mental problems or physical disorders of the mother have a major influence on a baby during pregnancy. Even lifestyle and the socio-economic status of the parents are important to the baby.
When a baby is born prematurely, all growth and development processes are disrupted. This must happen suddenly in a stressful irritating environment. It still matters how many weeks a person is born. For example, the brain with 34-35 weeks is not mature enough and the majority of growth still occurs in the last 5-6 weeks of pregnancy. So also the moderately early-born can suffer from this. This while the lungs at 34-35 weeks are already relatively mature and baby disregarded. However, the alveoli still have to develop, so it remains a risk factor for later lung diseases.
Conclusion
These problems therefore arise at a very young age and in many cases persist until adulthood. This is why it is very important to focus attention on this issue. It has to be taken seriously. Many prematures can function relatively normally, some even without complaints. However, there is also a large group that does experience complaints and finds out later. This while they've been carrying a certain complaint their whole life. It is necessary to consider premature birth as a chronic condition.
Also because of the greater risk at later age of developing various diseases due to an early birth which occur only at later age.
It is also recommended for caregivers in the broadest sense to take with them the birth story, pregnancy duration and birth weight of a person by default.
Source: Raju TNK, Buist AS, Blaisdell CJ, Moxey-Mims M, Saigal S. (2017) Adults born preterm: a review of general health and system-specific outcomes.
