Increasing respiratory burden of prematurity: can we turn the tide?

Despite many improvements in neonatal care, prematurity remains a significant cause of childhood mortality and morbidity, and the second largest cause of death in children worldwide.1 2 Chronic lung disease of prematurity, also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common respiratory complication, associated with poor long-term health and neurodisability.3 Early lung protective ventilation strategies can affect lung function and respiratory outcomes long into school age.4 In this issue of Thorax, Kwok et al describe changes in the outcomes of preterm babies in England and Wales over the last decade (2010–2020).5 Important findings of this cohort study are increase in the overall survival, accompanying increase in the BPD incidence among survivors and increase in the use of postnatal steroids. Furthermore, incidence of severe BPD and proportion of infants requiring respiratory support after discharge has increased. There are well-documented...
Source: Thorax - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Thorax Editorial Source Type: research