Prematurity and Low Birth Weight and Their Impact on Childhood Growth Patterns and the Risk of Long-Term Cardiovascular Sequelae

Preterm birth (before 37 completed weeks of gestation) is a global health problem, remaining the main reason for neonatal mortality and morbidity. Improvements in perinatal care recent decades have been associated with higher survival rate extremely preterm infants, leading to risk long-term sequelae this population throughout life. Numerous surveillance programs formerly premature infants continue focus on neurodevelopmental disorders, while assessment impact low weight child growth cardiovascular disease young adults equally necessary. This review will discuss influence prematurity childhood children, adolescents adults. The metabolic disorders increased adult survivors. In early childhood, may show elevated blood pressure, weakened vascular growth, augmented peripheral resistance cardiomyocyte remodeling. Increased gain during postnatal period later body composition, promote obesity impair results. These adverse alterations contribute an incidents, hypertension diabetes. Preterm-born children those fetal restriction (FGR) who demonstrate rapid changes their percentile should remain under pressure monitoring. A better understanding lifelong outcomes preterm-born individuals crucial developing strategies prevent be basis future research provide effective interventions.