Health-related quality of life in two birth cohorts of extremely preterm born adults

Abstract

Aim Investigate potential long-term cohort influences on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults born extremely preterm (EP) during the 1980–90s, in view of advancements in neonatal care within that timeframe. Methods Two cohorts of EP-born adults (82–85 cohort and 91–92 cohort) enrolling matched term controls, were compared. Participants were assessed at 18 years and again in their mid-twenties using the Child Health Questionnaire Children Form-87 (CHQ-CF87) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results At 18 years, 77 (90%) EP-born and 75 (93%) term controls had data, followed by 67 (78%) EP-born and 66 (82%) term controls in their mid-twenties. At 18 years, there were no differences across the birth decades, and EP-born and term-born reported relatively similar HRQoL scores. In the mid-twenties, birth decade did also not significantly impact HRQoL scores, although the EP-born 82–85 cohort scored numerically poorer than the 91–92 cohort in three domains. Term controls scored similarly across birth decade in all domains. Regarding influence from neonatal factors, postnatal corticosteroids had a negative impact in some domains. Conclusion No significant differences in HRQoL were observed between EP-born adults from the 82–85 cohort versus the 91–92 cohort, although the EP-born 82–85 cohort tended to score poorer in their mid-twenties.