Premature Birth

Each year, approximately fifteen million babies worldwide are born before 37 weeks of gestation, and due to complications of prematurity, one million of them will not live until their first birthday.1 Babies who survive are at increased risk of a range of complications and impairments, some of which persist into adulthood. Beyond its immeasurable emotional impact, prematurity is associated with tremendous economic costs, including at least $26 billion annually in the U.S. alone.2

A limited number of clinical tools are available to healthcare providers to prevent or predict premature birth. Administration of progesterone during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the likelihood of premature birth among women with a prior spontaneous premature birth.3 Screening for fetal fibronectin in cervicovaginal secretions can help identify pregnant women at high risk for preterm delivery.4 Timely administration of corticosteroids to women in preterm labor can improve neonatal outcomes.5,6,7

However, the persisting burden of preterm birth testifies to the need for further research to elucidate its causes, and new technologies for its prediction and prevention.

References

  1. Blencowe H, Cousens S, Chou D, et al. Born too soon: the global epidemiology of 15 million preterm births. Reprod Health. 2013;10 Suppl 1:S2.
  2. Behrman RE and Butler AS. Preterm birth: causes, consequences, and prevention. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2006.
  3. Dodd JM, Jones L, Flenady V, Cincotta R, Crowther CA. Prenatal administration of progesterone for preventing preterm birth in women considered to be at risk of preterm birth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(7):CD004947.
  4. Lockwood CJ, Senyei AE, Dische MR, et al. Fetal fibronectin in cervical and vaginal secretions as a predictor of preterm delivery. N Engl J Med. 1991;325(10):669-74.
  5. Liggins GC, Howie RN. A controlled trial of antepartum glucocorticoid treatment for prevention of the respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants. Pediatrics. 1972;50(4):515-25.
  6. Crowley PA. Antenatal corticosteroid therapy: a meta-analysis of the randomized trials, 1972 to 1994. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1995;173(1):322-35.
  7. Wong D, Abdel-latif M, Kent A. Antenatal steroid exposure and outcomes of very premature infants: a regional cohort study. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2014;99(1):F12-20.

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