Preterm Birth and Healthy Outcomes
The problem
The Alberta provincial rate of preterm birth is now the highest rate in Canada at more than 9% of all births-some 4000 newborns annually. Preterm birth is associated with more than 75% of infant death and long-term disability. These disabilities include developmental disorders (including cerebral palsy and blindness), respiratory problems, learning problems (including lower IQ and lower academic achievement), and behavioural problems (including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Each year, approximately $58 million is spent in Alberta attending to the needs of preterm infants just until discharge from hospital; approximately $1.5 billion is spent on the supplementary health, social services, and educational resources required by preterm infants with long-term disabilities.
The team
The Preterm Birth and Healthy Outcomes Team is composed of 20 investigators representing 13 different disciplines from the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, the University of Lethbridge, the University of Toronto, the Institute of Health Economics, Calgary Laboratory Services, and the Calgary Health Region
The plan
The team will conduct research in the following areas:
I. Prediction of preterm birth. There are currently no reliable methods to identify women at high risk of preterm labour. Research will identify gene patterns that predict women who will deliver early. The research will help explain how genes and environment interact to influence preterm birth.
II. Effective interventions for preterm birth. Preterm birth is more common among women with poor prenatal care, mental health, and social support. The team will look at biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors in preterm prevention. They will also investigate the changes in the uterus which trigger active contraction in order to develop new ways to delay labour and improve healthcare delivery.
III. Long-term outcomes associated with interventions for preterm infants. Due to their immature neurological systems, preterm infants are often irritable and difficult to soothe. The team will assess studies about father-infant relations and parental care in the neonatal intensive care unit to determine influence on development.
The outcomes
This research team will develop evidence to reduce the rate of preterm birth and to improve the long-term prognosis for preterm babies and their families. Better collaboration and core resources will allow the team to contribute to improved practice, policy, and health-service delivery decisions. The mentoring and training of students working in related areas will also be an important outcome of this project.