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Preterm birth (<37 weeks’ gestation) is associated with substantial infant mortality and childhood disability. To assess long-term risk, investigators analyzed data from a population-based birth registry in Norway of more than 1.1 million singleton births that occurred in 1967 through 1988; 5% were preterm births.
Based on follow-up through 2002, preterm birth was associated with diminished survival throughout childhood. Extremely preterm (22–27 weeks) boys had higher risk for early and late childhood mortality (relative risks, 5.3 and 7.0, respectively) compared with term boys. Extremely preterm girls had higher risk for early, but not late, childhood mortality (RR, 9.7) compared with term girls. Very preterm (27–33 weeks) boys, but not gir…