Pre-term Birth and Environmental Influences on Lifelong Health

Each year worldwide 15 million preterm births occur, most without a readily identifiable biologic cause. Preterm birth is a birth outcome that disproportionately affects communities and families affected by poverty and environmental disadvantage. Heat waves and extreme temperatures significantly increase the incidence of preterm birth. However, issues of prematurity are not confined to infancy or even childhood. Chronic non-communicable conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and reduced pulmonary function occur earlier in adolescents and young adults born preterm. Exposure to ambient air pollution and other environmental toxins exacerbate these conditions for people born preterm. And the cycle continues.