Low birthweight babies have similar lives to their peers, 28 years later

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-08-29 00:01

New Zealand

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All babies born in 1986 who weighed less than 1500 grams have had their health and progress monitored ever since, as part of the New Zealand Very Low Birthweight Study. The authors have now summarised all the findings from the 28 year old follow-up, and say that while most very low birthweight adults are living healthy, productive lives similar to their peers born at full-term, being born very prematurely is a lifetime condition and can provide some challenges. They recommend extra surveillance and monitoring, particularly for blood pressure, heart, lung and kidney function and blood sugar control.

Media release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

New Zealand 1986 Very Low Birthweight Follow-up Study: the third decade

The New Zealand Very Low Birthweight Study has followed the health and progress of all individuals born prematurely in 1986 with very low birthweight (VLBW: <1,500g) across childhood into adulthood. This paper is a summary of the published findings of medical and psychological assessments at age 28 compared with same-aged peers who were born at the expected time at a healthy weight. Most VLBW adults are living healthy, productive lives similar to their term-born peers but do face some challenges. Mean values for biomedical measurements (e.g., blood pressure and lung function) and psychometric tests (e.g., IQ) were generally in the normal range for age but poorer than for controls. Very preterm birth is a lifetime condition and extra surveillance and monitoring is warranted, particularly for blood pressure, heart, lung and kidney function and blood sugar control.

Journal/
conference: NZMJ

Organisation/s: University of Otago, University of Canterbury

Funder: Supported by a project grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (12-129), additional funding from the New Zealand Cure Kids Charitable Foundation, two project grants from the New Zealand Child Health Research Foundation (Cure Kids) (CHRF 5040, 5041) and an equipment grant from the Canterbury Neonatal Trust Fund.

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