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Title
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Variation in follow-up for children born very preterm in Europe
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Author
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Institution/Organisation
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The SHIPS Research Group
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Abstract
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| Background: Children born very preterm (<32 weeks of gestation) face high risks of neurodevelopmental and health difficulties compared with children born at term. Follow-up after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit is essential to ensure early detection and intervention, but data on policy approaches are sparse. Methods: We investigated the characteristics of follow-up policy and programmes in 11 European countries from 2011 to 2022 using healthcare informant questionnaires and the published/grey literature. We further explored how one aspect of follow-up, its recommended duration, may be reflected in the percent of parents reporting that their children are receiving follow-up services at 5 years of age in these countries using data from an area-based cohort of very preterm births in 2011/12 (N = 3635). Results: Between 2011/12 and 22, the number of countries with follow-up policies or programmes increased from 6 to 11. The policies and programmes were heterogeneous in eligibility criteria, duration and content. In countries that recommended longer follow-up, parent-reported follow-up rates at 5 years of age were higher, especially among the highest risk children, born <28 weeks' gestation or with birthweight <1000 g: between 42.1% and 70.1%, vs. <20% in most countries without recommendations. Conclusions: Large variations exist in follow-up policies and programmes for children born very preterm in Europe; differences in recommended duration translate into cross-country disparities in reported follow-up at 5 years of age. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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European journal of public health. - Oxford, 1991, currens
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Publication
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Oxford
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Oxford univ press
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2024
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ISSN
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1101-1262
[print]
1464-360X
[online]
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DOI
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10.1093/EURPUB/CKAD192
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Volume/pages
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34
:1
(2024)
, p. 91-100
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ISI
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001107292500001
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Pubmed ID
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37978865
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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Full text (open access)
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