A new study reveals that adults born very prematurely are more likely to be unemployed, earn less and have chronic health problems compared to those who were born full-term. In addition, a higher proportion of the preemie participants in the study were single, claimed to have never had sex and possessed a tendency for less risky behaviors than their full-term counterparts.
"Most of these differences were accounted for because they had neurological impairments like cerebral palsy and blindness," said Saroj Saigal of Canada's McMaster University and lead author of the study, adding that the exclusion of the 20 percent of participants with physical or neurological disabilities made some of the differences - such as employment status - disappear. "However, there are still differences in household income, which was about $20,000 lower, and they were more likely to be single."
The team examined 100 extremely low birth weight premature babies until they were 29 to 36 years old and compared them with 89 adults born at term and normal weight. The findings revealed that 80 percent of adults born prematurely were employed within the last year compared to 92 percent of those born at term. In addition, 31 percent of adults born prematurely were not dating or rarely daring, compared to 13 percent of those born at term.
Chronic health conditions such as eye problems were also twice as common in the preemie group, and those with lower birth weights exhibited lower self-esteem. However, they were also less likely to consume drugs or alcohol.
The data also suggests that adults born very prematurely tend to be shyer and less socially engaged than those born of normal weight.
Although the results of the McMaster study seem concerning, experts believe that they are actually positive.
"Despite these differences, most are still doing reasonably well in life," Saigal said.
"These kids have done remarkably well, better than people would have expected," said Christine Gleason of the Seattle Children's Hospital, adding that the participants in the study were born at a time when only 40 percent of preterm infants survived. Now, thanks to advances in neonatal care, preterm infant survival rates are much higher, although they still face problems.
"There are problems that can affect their entire life," Gleason said. "That's why it's important to prevent premature birth in the first place."
The findings were published in the May 23 issue of JAMA Pediatrics.
