Optimizing developmental outcomes in premature infants through a multidisciplinary approach to care

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth remains the leading risk factor for perinatal mortality and morbidity. Infants born preterm miss critical periods of development, placing them at increased risk for a range of neurodevelopmental, motor, and sensory complications. These complex health outcomes are further compounded by biological, behavioral, and social factors, with socioeconomically disadvantaged populations disproportionally affected. As rates of preterm birth rise, and survival improves at increasingly earlier gestational ages, the demand for comprehensive and accessible care for this high-risk population continues to grow. METHODS: The Premature Outpatient Clinic at Hospital São Paulo (HSP) addresses this need through free, multidisciplinary healthcare designed to improve developmental outcomes for preterm infants. RESULTS: Through systematic assessment, coordinated follow-up, and early intervention, the clinic aids in the timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment for patients across pediatric specialties. CONCLUSION: Broader implementation of this model in other regions may help and meet the global need for efficient, equitable care for this growing and vulnerable population. IMPACT: Preterm birth places infants at increased risk for complex health outcomes that require comprehensive and accessible care. Preterm infants are at elevated risk for many growth complications due to missed critical development, emphasizing the need for timely diagnosis and intervention to improve health outcomes. The Premature Outpatient Clinic addresses the need for multidisciplinary healthcare to improve developmental outcomes for preterm infants. A free outpatient clinic for preterm infants, integrating multiple specialties under one roof, can reduce healthcare barriers for socioeconomically disadvantaged families. Preterm infants face unique health outcomes; implementation specialized preterm clinics can make long-term follow-up focused and inclusive.

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Publication Details

Journal
Pediatric Research
Published
2026-06-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-026-05070-9
Primary Topic
Infant Development and Preterm Care
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Optimizing developmental outcomes in premature infants through a multidisciplinary approach to care

Kelsey Christoffel, Anna Luiza Pires Vieira, Marcela Daza Calero, Ruth Guinsburg et al.
Pediatric Research
Infant Development and Preterm Care
article

Optimizing developmental outcomes in premature infants through a multidisciplinary approach to care

Kelsey Christoffel, Anna Luiza Pires Vieira, Marcela Daza Calero, Ruth Guinsburg, William J. Britt, Adré du Plessis, Diana Valencia, Arthur Ko, Appolinaire Tiam, Marcio Leyser, Ana Paula Andrade Hamad, José F. Cordero, Maribel Campos, Elaine Girão Sinnes, Youssef A. Kousa, Regina Donnamaria Morais, Pablo Nepomuceno, Toufic Hakim, Melina Frota, David Wessel, Andrea Pardo, Roberta L. DeBiasi, Allan Chiaratti de Oliveira, Batshaw Ml, Maria Fernanda Branco de Almeida, Jacqueline Acosta, Jamil Pedro de Siqueira Caldas, Miguel Del Campo, Melina Alves da Frota, Emilia Afrange, Deolinda M.F. Scalabrin, Éric Vilain, J.C. Murray, Nathan Kuppermann, Peter Ebasone, Zilton Vasconcelos, Sarah Mulkey, Tammy Tsuchida, Tayyba Anwar, Denise P. Cavalcanti, Gilbert Vezina, Aubrey Alexander, Adriana Lima, Dorothy Bulas, Marisa M. Mussi-Pinhata, Anastase Dzudie Tamdja, Stella Maria Coda Pinto Alves Campo Vieira, Arthur Santos Junior, Ricardo Pinho, Elizabeth Wells, Tarik Haydar, Jill Lebov, Fernanda J. P. Marques, Youssef Kousa, Carlos Cure, Ana Lucia Goulart, Ana Carolina coan, Tamer Mansour, Sarah Schlatterer, Zoe Kang, Monica Ruiz, Adriana Neves de Andrade, Karen Smith, Elizabeth J. Leslie
article en

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth remains the leading risk factor for perinatal mortality and morbidity. Infants born preterm miss critical periods of development, placing them at increased risk for a range of neurodevelopmental, motor, and sensory complications. These complex health outcomes are further compounded by biological, behavioral, and social factors, with socioeconomically disadvantaged populations disproportionally affected. As rates of preterm birth rise, and survival improves at increasingly earlier gestational ages, the demand for comprehensive and accessible care for this high-risk population continues to grow. METHODS: The Premature Outpatient Clinic at Hospital São Paulo (HSP) addresses this need through free, multidisciplinary healthcare designed to improve developmental outcomes for preterm infants. RESULTS: Through systematic assessment, coordinated follow-up, and early intervention, the clinic aids in the timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment for patients across pediatric specialties. CONCLUSION: Broader implementation of this model in other regions may help and meet the global need for efficient, equitable care for this growing and vulnerable population. IMPACT: Preterm birth places infants at increased risk for complex health outcomes that require comprehensive and accessible care. Preterm infants are at elevated risk for many growth complications due to missed critical development, emphasizing the need for timely diagnosis and intervention to improve health outcomes. The Premature Outpatient Clinic addresses the need for multidisciplinary healthcare to improve developmental outcomes for preterm infants. A free outpatient clinic for preterm infants, integrating multiple specialties under one roof, can reduce healthcare barriers for socioeconomically disadvantaged families. Preterm infants face unique health outcomes; implementation specialized preterm clinics can make long-term follow-up focused and inclusive.

Pediatric Research
Northwestern University (US), University of Iowa (US), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US), Milken Institute (US), Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (US), Université de Yaoundé I (CM), Children's National (US), Emory University (US), University of Georgia (US), Universidade de São Paulo (BR), RTI International (US), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (BR), University of Puerto Rico System (PR), University of California, Irvine (US), Union Institute & University (US), University of Alabama at Birmingham (US), Yale University (US), Universidad Nacional de Colombia (CO), University of California San Diego (US), Sarah Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals (BR), Brazilian Society of Speech (BR), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (BR), University of California, Davis (US), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
Children's National Hospital, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, National Institutes of Health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Infant Development and Preterm Care
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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