• Employment
• Lifestyle
• Miscarriage
• Pre-eclampsia
• Stillbirth
• Toxoplasmosis

Premature Birth Statistics

• The UK has the highest rate of premature birth in Europe.
• Every hour 5 babies are born prematurely.
• More than 45,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK each year.

Definitions

Premature born before 37 weeks

Moderately premature born between 35 and 37 weeks

Very premature born between 29 and 34 weeks

Extremely premature born between 24 and 28 weeks

Low birthweight baby weighs less than 2,500 g (5.5 lbs)

Very low birthweight baby weighs less than 1,500 g (3.0 lbs)

Extremely low birthweight baby weighs less than 1,000 g (2.2 lbs)

Neonatal deaths = within 28 days of birth

Perinatal deaths = stillbirths and deaths occurring within the 1st week of life

Survival rates

Babies born at 23 weeks have a 17% chance of survival

Babies born at 24 weeks have a 39% chance of survival

Babies born at 25 weeks have a 50% chance of survival

From 32 weeks onwards, most babies are able to survive with the help of medical Technology [EPICure data]

Outcomes

1 in 10 premature babies will develop a permanent disability such as lung disease, cerebral palsy, blindness or deafness.

50% of premature babies born before the 26th week of gestation are disabled, a quarter severely so. (Fowler GA. Preemie problems: the sobering statistics. US News World Reports 2000; vol 129: pp56).

Of children born before 26 weeks' gestation, results in 241 of the surviving children at six years (early school age) indicate a high level of disability as follows:

• 22% severe disability (defined as cerebral palsy but not walking, low cognitive scores, blindness, profound deafness)
• 24% moderate disability (defined as cerebral palsy but walking, IQ/cognitive scores in the special needs range, lesser degree of visual or hearing impairment)
• 34% mild disability (defined as low IQ/cognitive score, squint, requiring glasses)
• 20% no problems

This study also showed a greater risk of severe disability and lower cognitive function results for boys compared with girls. This supports the theory that male sex is an important risk factor in extremely preterm infants.

Cognitive and neurologic impairment is common at school age amongst extremely preterm children. [N Engl J Med 2005; 352: 9-19.] Epicure data

Neonatal care

In 1990, £42-70 million was spent by the NHS on neonatal intensive care.