Swedish national study reports improved survival for extremely preterm infants

More than two thirds (70%) of babies born alive before 27 weeks’ gestation survive to one year, according to a prospective, three year national study in Sweden (JAMA 2009;301:2225-33, doi:10.1001/jama.2009.771).

“The most important finding in this study is the high survival of extremely preterm infants born alive,” the authors say. The one year survival was 9.8% for babies born at 22 weeks, 53% at 23 weeks, 67% at 24 weeks, 82% at 25 weeks, and 85% at 26 weeks. Of babies surviving to one year, 45% had no serious morbidity.

Preterm births are increasing worldwide, and neonatal intensive care can save even extremely immature babies, said the lead investigator, Karel Maršál, of Lund University Hospital. He was speaking at a media briefing on child health organised by JAMA in New York last week.

The Extremely Preterm …