Prematurity is defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, and is the major determinant of morbidity and mortality in newborns. Since the beginning of the modern era of newborn intensive care, the interests of neonatologists has focused primarily on attempting to improve the care of, and outcomes for, increasingly smaller and more premature neonates. In recent years, a subset of premature neonates (those born between 34 and 37 weeks) has become the subject of increasing interest. In the U.S. and Canada, these infants contributed substantially to overall infant and neonatal mortality, although their mortality rate was significantly lower than that of newborns whose gestational age was <33 weeks. Because these infants represent >75% of the total number of preterm infants, their deaths constitute a much larger “etiologic fraction” of infant and neonatal mortality than do those who are more premature. Others have pointed out that short-term morbidity, as reflected by increased hypoglycemia, jaundice, apnea, respiratory distress, longer lengths of stay, and higher costs, is also much greater for this cohort of infants.

Some experts have suggested that the traditional designation “near-term” be replaced by “Late Preterm” to emphasize that it is preferable to approach these infants as “still preterm” rather “almost term.”  Their unique physiologic and developmental needs of these near-term neonates are yet to be addressed. Clinicians involved in the day-to-day care of late preterm newborns, as well as those developing guidelines and recommendations, would benefit from having a clear understanding of the potential differences in risks faced by these infants, compared with their more mature counterparts.

This presentation will be focusing on certain core issues facing the cohort of late-preterm neonates such as:

a)     Epidemiology of  late pre-term neonates;

b)    Obstetrical issues relevant to late pre-term neonates;

c)     Neonatal issues relevant to late pre-term neonates;

d)    Late pre-term research data form NYU Medical Center; and