Later-in-life challenges include increased occurrence of mental health disorders, cardiometabolic issues<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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FRIDAY, Aug. 1, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Higher early-life medical risk among preterm infants is associated with increased occurrence of mental health disorders, cardiometabolic issues, and body composition differences compared with full-term peers at age 35 years, according to a study published online July 22 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n Amy L. D’Agata, Ph.D., R.N., from the College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, and colleagues conducted a cohort study to examine how early-life medical risk factors are associated with psychological and physiological health in adulthood. The analysis included 158 preterm (born 1985 to 1989) and 55 full term-born adults at age 35 years.<\/p>\n The researchers found that higher medical risk severity was associated with increases in internalizing problems (\u03b2, 0.85), higher systolic blood pressure (\u03b2, 7.15), lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (\u03b2, \u221213.07), higher triglycerides (\u03b2, 53.97), higher android-to-gynoid fat ratio (\u03b2, 0.22), and lower bone density (\u03b2, \u22121.14).<\/p>\n “In this cohort study, preterm individuals had higher early-life medical risk and faced increased mental health disorders, cardiometabolic issues, and body composition differences compared with full-term peers at age 35 years,” the authors write. “Despite strong evidence linking preterm birth to long-term health consequences, many primary care clinicians in the United States remain unaware of these risks, often due to infrequent birth history inquiries in adult health care settings.”<\/p>\n One author disclosed ties to the biotechnology industry.<\/p>\n