Every year, Norwegian children are born prematurely. A full pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, while children born before week 37 are called premature. It is already known that the mortality rate among premature children in adulthood is much higher compared to others. Now researchers at NTNU have made new discoveries. They have discovered that premature babies also have an increased risk of COPD and asthma. Only a few weeks less time inside mum’s belly can have a lot to say for the lungs later in life. Karoline Myrland Karisaari knows all about this. Got severe preeclampsia Karoline Myrland Karisaari was 24 weeks pregnant when the daughter in her womb came out via caesarean section. The reason was that mum Karoline was in danger of dying due to severe preeclampsia. Today, Ine is six years old. She has been diagnosed with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. In addition, she has the lung disease bronchopulmonary dysplasia. – Ine is doing well. She is very healthy now in the summer, but in the winter she is very sick. She struggles with stiff lungs and getting rid of mucus, says Karisaari. She is happy that research on premature babies is moving forward, even if the results are not always as encouraging. – The more knowledge, the easier it is for parents to follow along. If the child has a lot of colds or has asthma that is behaving a bit strangely, it is easier to know what to do. We have breathing support here at home that we can treat Ine with when she is ill, says Karisaari. But even though the 6-year-old is doing well during the day, mum Karoline still has a growing concern. She is pregnant again, and every week the boy stays inside her belly, she breathes a sigh of relief. Here is a picture from Ine’s 6th birthday. Photo: Private – I know that every week counts The boy in the belly has almost been in there for 26 weeks. The time when older sister Ine was redeemed has passed. – It is very nerve-wracking from week to week. Because I keep thinking that preeclampsia or other complications could occur. It’s an ordeal to keep a cool head, she says. – I know that every week counts. But for now everything seems to be going well. Karoline is pregnant for the first time after Ine was born. She says it’s hard to think that everything will go well. Photo: Privat The smallest are vulnerable When the child is in the mother’s womb, it is the placenta that acts as a “lung”, and in premature babies, the child’s lung must take over the function of the placenta before they are ready. In the new study, researchers at NTNU have used data from nearly 2.4 million people. These were born in Norway and Finland in the period 1967–1999. And the figures show that anyone born prematurely, including children born as late as week 38 of pregnancy, has a higher risk than other children of developing asthma. And Risnes believes this is important. – Doctors must take a closer look at the length of pregnancy in patients with respiratory problems. In the first three months that the child lives, they are extra vulnerable. Then they should not have contact with people who have a cold, and you should perhaps think about your distance when you are in a public place, says Risnes. But what’s worse is that these people also have a higher risk of developing COPD. It is a more serious disease than asthma. – This shows that it is important to prevent lung infections in this group, explains the researcher. Kari Risnes has been researching premature children for many years. She hopes increased knowledge can lead to better prevention. Photo: Morten Waagø / news Some good advice Kari Risnes has worked clinically with newborns for many years. And it is what she experiences at the clinic that motivates her in her work. She wants to know as much as possible – both to be able to treat, but also to be able to provide better information to the families. – I hope that increased knowledge among those born prematurely can lead to better prevention. Not least, doctors, health personnel, schools and nurseries must be more aware of the vulnerability that premature babies carry with them. In addition, there are ways to prevent lung disease yourself. Risnes recommends keeping premature babies sheltered in the first period. Both smoke and infections contribute to putting them at higher risk. In addition, she recommends that you take vaccines that can help in the long term. It is also a matter of course that one should not start smoking, explains the superior. – If you yourself know that you were born prematurely, whether it is a lot or a little, then you should take precautions.
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Those born prematurely have an increased risk of COPD and asthma, new research from NTNU – news Trøndelag shows
