Preterm Birth and Risk of Health Service Use, Morbidity, and Medication Needs at 5 Years.
Preterm babies face higher health risks - they need more hospital stays, medical care, and medications even 5 years later. This study reveals the long-term impact of premature birth, underscoring the importance of supporting these vulnerable children.
This population-based cohort study in British Columbia, Canada, analyzed health data for over 448,000 children born between 22-44 weeks gestation from 2004-2014. It found that preterm infants had significantly higher rates of hospitalization, outpatient visits, diagnosed conditions, and prescription medication needs up to age 5 compared to full-term babies. The findings highlight the substantial long-term healthcare burden associated with premature birth, even in a developed country with universal healthcare. Limitations include potential variations in data quality and availability across the study period. These results emphasize the need for continued research and targeted interventions to improve long-term outcomes for preterm children.