Towards Life-Long Healthy Lungs: A Multidisciplinary Follow-up Framework for Preterm Infants

Approximately 8% of all births occur between 30-36 weeks of gestation ('moderate-late' prematurity). Respiratory tract infections (RTI) and wheezing illnesses disproportionally affect preterm infants resulting in a 1.5-2 fold higher hospitalisation rate during the first years of life compared to term born children. Besides prematurity, several other postnatal modifiable influencing factors are associated with increased risk of respiratory morbidity and impaired pulmonary development. These factors include RTI, rapid weight gain, air pollution, tobacco smoke exposition, vitamin D deficiency, maternal stress and antibiotic usage. The investigators hypothesize that a follow-up program aiming at prevention of modifiable influencing factors can reduce respiratory morbidity in moderate and late prematurity. Objectives: To reduce respiratory disease burden in moderate-late preterm infants in the first 18 months of life

Inclusion Criteria:Moderate-late preterm infants (GA 30+0 - 35+6 weeks)Exclusion Criteria:bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CHD),congenital pulmonary disordershemodynamic significant cardiac diseaseimmunodeficiencysevere failure to thrive;birth asphyxia with poor neurological outcomesyndromic or other severe congenital disorders with decreased life expectancy