Researchers analyzed over four million singleton live births in Sweden during 1973-2014 and found the risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) was doubled among births before 37 weeks of gestation and tripled among births before 28 weeks. Additionally, researchers found that the risk increased by four percent per premature week.
Scientists compared the data to siblings born full-term and found the increased risk for kidney disease was not present among the siblings.
The researchers concluded, “Preterm and early term birth are strong risk factors for the development of CKD from childhood into mid-adulthood. People born prematurely need long term follow-up for monitoring and preventive actions to preserve renal function across the life course.”
