Socioeconomic outcomes in very preterm/very low birth weight adults: individual participant data meta-analysis
Very preterm or very low birth weight (VPT/VLBW) birth is associated with socioeconomic disadvantages in adulthood, including lower educational attainment, lower employment rates, and a higher need for social benefits compared with individuals born at term. Neurosensory impairments are strongly associated with adverse socioeconomic outcomes among VPT/VLBW adults, while lower gestational age, lower birth weight, and sociodemographic disadvantages serve as additional risk factors. Early interventions in the NICU that reduce medical complications, along with enhanced educational support throughout childhood, may help mitigate long-term socioeconomic disparities for individuals born VPT/VLBW.
Authors
- Lianne J. Woodward (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7790-1435)
- Neil Marlow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5890-2953)
- Nicole Baumann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0788-8685)
- Katri Räikkönen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3124-3470)
- Eero Kajantie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7081-8391)
- Brian A. Darlow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4060-6141)
- L. John Horwood (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4881-1956)
- Jeanie L.Y. Cheong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5901-0455)
- Yanlin Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9204-7951)
- Marjaana Tikanmäki
- Dieter Wolke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0304-268X)
- Marit S. Indredavik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3860-5075)
- Kari Anne I. Evensen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0129-0164)
- Sylvia van der Pal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9706-9298)
- Samantha Johnson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8963-7881)
- Peter J. Anderson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7430-868X)
- Marina Mendonça (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9224-4891)
- Lex W. Doyle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7667-7312)
- Chiara Nosarti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6305-9710)
- Peter Bartmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7115-3552)
- Kati Heinonen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1262-5599)
- Sarah Harris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1265-4453)
Institutions
- University College Hospital (GB)
- Royal Women's Hospital (AU)
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (NL)
- Tampere University of Applied Sciences (FI)
- University of Leicester (GB)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- King's College London (GB)
- OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University (NO)
- University of Canterbury (NZ)
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
- Oulu University Hospital (FI)
- University Hospital Bonn (DE)
- Helsinki University Hospital (FI)
- University of Warwick (GB)
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (FI)
- Canterbury Health Laboratories (NZ)
- St Olav's University Hospital (NO)
- Tampere University (FI)
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute (AU)
- University College London (GB)
- Monash University (AU)
- University of Otago (NZ)
- University of Oulu (FI)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pediatric Research
- Published
- 2025-05-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04082-1
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 13.98
Funders
- Government of the United Kingdom
- UK Research and Innovation
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center
- European Commission
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme