John Goddeeris, professor of economics
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Most survivors of extremely low birth weight grow
up to become productive adults, according to a study led by a
Michigan State University economist.
Extremely low birth weight is defined as less than about 2.2 pounds.
About one in 200 babies is born at that size. But because relatively
few survived prior to the 1980s, few studies have examined their
adult outcomes.
The study led by MSU’s John Goddeeris found that while these
survivors were somewhat less productive as adults, on average, than
normal-weight subjects, the productivity deficits were not very
large. The study, which appears in the journal Pediatrics, measured
education and salary levels.
“Our findings suggest that the long-term economic impact of being
born at extremely low birth weight is pretty modest for typical
survivors,” said Goddeeris, professor of economics.
The study is part of ongoing research led by Saroj Saigal at
McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Co-researchers include Nigel
Paneth at MSU, Michael Boyle and Barbara Stoskopf at McMaster and
David Streiner at McMaster and University of Toronto. The team
followed a cohort of 149 extremely low birth weight adults and 133
normal birth weight adults born in Canada around 1980.
Survival rates for extremely low birth weight babies have improved
markedly. In the United States, mortality rates for babies born
between about 1.1 pounds and 2.2 pounds decreased from 58 percent in
1983 to 31 percent in 2005. Researchers believe this is due to
advances in neonatal care.
Saving infants who are extremely small or extremely preterm is very
expensive, the study says. Some survivors experience severe
nervous-system impairments such as mental retardation, while a large
fraction experience more minor learning and behavioral problems.
But the study reinforces the argument that, on the whole, advances
in neonatal care have had benefits far greater than costs, Goddeeris
said.
“Some extremely low birth weight survivors will remain dependent on
others,” Goddeeris said, “but most make a successful transition to
adulthood and become independent and productive adults. Their
education and earnings levels are not so different from their
peers.”
The research was funded by the National Institute of Child Health
and Human Development and the Canadian Institutes of Health.
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Contact: Andy Henion, University Relations, Office: (517)
355-3294, Cell: (517) 281-6949, Andy.Henion@ur.msu.edu; John
Goddeeris, Economics, Office: (517) 353-6466, goddeeri@msu.edu |