Table 1.

Poor outcomes caused by prematurity and described in the literature.

Poor outcomes related to prematurity
Respiratory issues	• Respiratory Distress Syndrome • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia • Higher risk of recurrent hospitalizations due to respiratory/infectious disease (such as bronchiolitis)
Cardiovascular issues	• Increased risk of heart failure and ischemic heart disease • Increased risk of higher systolic and diastolic pressure
Gastrointestinal issues	• Poor feeding tolerance • Necrotizing enterocolitis • Short bowel syndrome
Metabolic issues	• Higher and altered adiposity • Lipid disorders • Increased risk of higher insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus type 2 • Increased risk of metabolic syndrome
Kidney issues	• Chronic kidney disease • Low nephron number
Growth issues	• Extrauterine growth restriction • Failure to thrive • Impaired Catch-up growth
Neurological and cognitive issues	• Motor delay (both fine motor and gross motor delays) • Cerebral palsy • Cognitive impairment with lower intelligence quotient scores and academic performances in several areas
Mental health issues and social interactions	• Internalising problems (eg, anxiety, depression) • Attention Deficit—Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) • Autism spectrum disorder • Social issues, with a tendency to be shyer, have fewer friends, be more socially withdrawn, and be more likely to be bullied than term born peers