Results of a new study indicate that gestational age at birth is an important predictor of poor health throughout childhood.
A higher risk of hospitalization
Being born early (before 37 weeks of gestation) is associated with a higher risk of hospitalization throughout childhood than being born at term (40 weeks of gestation), according to a study conducted, among others , by researchers at the “City, University of London” and published by the BMJ.
Potentially vulnerable children
Although the risk is reduced as children grow older, particularly after age 2, excess risk persists through age 10, even for children born at 38 and 39 weeks gestation. , which represents many potentially vulnerable children, according to the researchers.
A link between gestational age at birth
To explore this question further, a team of researchers from the University of Oxford, in collaboration with researchers from the City University of London and the University of Leicester, undertook the link between gestational age at birth and hospital admissions up to age 10, as well as changes in admission rates throughout childhood.
Didier Galibert
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