Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Approximately 15 million infants are born prematurely each year, a status often associated with an increased risk of chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, data on the impact of prematurity on disease progression and management in adulthood remains limited. This study explored patient awareness of their preterm birth, its perceived impact on respiratory health, and how healthcare professionals (HCPs) consider this information in disease management.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted via Carenity, an online patient community, between March and June 2024. Adults with asthma and/or COPD, born prematurely and residing in France, Spain, the UK, or the USA, completed a self-administered survey. Descriptive analyses, chi-squared tests, and logistic regression models explored the impact of preterm status on comorbidities, disease perception, and management.
RESULTS: Among the 301 respondents, 44% had asthma, 26% COPD, 16% asthma-COPD overlap (ACO), and 14% other respiratory conditions. Most participants knew their preterm status (87%) and neonatal history (81%), and a majority of those who didn’t have access to this information (61%) wished they had. Although prematurity did not appear to influence perceived disease severity, treatment, or hospitalizations, participants rated the long-term impact of being born prematurely as moderate (median score: 3/5). Half of them believed that prematurity should be considered in clinical management. However, only one-third had shared this information with their HCPs. Among those who did, 40% reported that the HCP acknowledged it as a risk factor but 31% received no specific reaction.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite the patient-perceived impact of the preterm birth on their adult health and respiratory conditions, this factor is rarely considered during the healthcare pathway.