VLBW infants are doing well at 20 years of age

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The outcomes of preterm infants are a major concern of parents, physicians, and society. Prematurity is the major contributor to infant mortality and short-term morbidity. Surviving preterms also have increased risks of cerebral palsy and sensory deficits. However, several recent reports indicate that infants with birth weights less than 1.5 kg do reasonably well as young adults and are quite accepting of any limitations they may have. In this issue of The Journal, Hack et al further reinforce this positive outcome by reporting on the self- perceived health and functional well being of VLBW infants born between 1977 and 1979 and evaluated at 20 years of age. The surviving preterms prior to 1980 were larger and more mature than the extremely low birth weight infants that survive today. We can only hope that today’s’ survivors will do as well.