Association of gestational age and growth measures at birth with infection-related admissions to hospital throughout childhood: a population-based, data-linkage study from Western Australia

The impact of respiratory viruses on lung health after preterm birth

“…For those who survive the neonatal period, many face a lifetime of ongoing health problems with a substantially increased risk of significant respiratory morbidity that persists through life [2–4]. The risk and severity of lifelong morbidity and mortality are accentuated by the level of prematurity [5,6], birth weight [6] and the presence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) [7]. …”

“…In one series, preterm infants born at less than 25 weeks’ gestation had more than twice the frequency of re-hospitalisation due to acute respiratory infections and more than twice the length of hospital admission compared to those born in the late preterm period (31% and 12 days vs. 13% and 5 days, respectively) [40]. More recent analysis from a large population based, data-linkage study reported a 12% increase in the overall frequency of infection-related hospitalisation during childhood for each week reduction in gestational age [6]. In addition to reduced gestational age, low birth weight, although at least partly inter-dependent with gestational age, has also been attributed to a 19% increase in the proportion of infants hospitalised with acute respiratory infection for each 500 g reduction in birth weight [6,41].…”

“…More recent analysis from a large population based, data-linkage study reported a 12% increase in the overall frequency of infection-related hospitalisation during childhood for each week reduction in gestational age [6]. In addition to reduced gestational age, low birth weight, although at least partly inter-dependent with gestational age, has also been attributed to a 19% increase in the proportion of infants hospitalised with acute respiratory infection for each 500 g reduction in birth weight [6,41]. …”

Gestation at birth, mode of birth, infant feeding and childhood hospitalization with infection

“…infection by age five years, and one in ten have multiple hospitalizations (2,3). Reducing early planned birth and supporting breastfeeding may assist to reduce the risk of hospitalization.…”

Prenatal NO2exposure and ultrasound measures of foetal growth: a prospective cohort study in Wuhan, China

“…Intrauterine growth restriction is associated with increased risks of neonatal and postneonatal mortality 2. Miller et al 3 found that children born with a low birth length or weight had higher rates of infection-related admissions to hospitals. Other studies suggested that slow foetal growth may be associated with an increased risk of chronic disease, such as hypertension and renal disease, in adult life 4 5…”