An initial step toward improving outcomes for preterm infants

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Very preterm infants have poor neuro-cognitive outcomes relative to term infants for multiple reasons, including injury and altered brain development. However, a major societal challenge is the consistent observation that poor outcomes correlate better with socioeconomic status of the mother than with problems the infant may have had following delivery. Furthermore, prematurity is increased in disadvantaged populations. Intervention programs are conceptually attractive, but have not been consistently successful. Koldewijn et al have now demonstrated that repeated intensive interventions to improve self-regulatory competence after birth improved developmental and behavioral assessments at 6 months of age relative to a randomized group of control infants. It will be essential to determine if these benefits detected at 6 months persist and contribute to improved long-term outcomes.