Despite previous research suggesting that very low birth weight (VLBW) babies could be impaired by their small start in life, a new University of Otago study shows they are actually doing ''pretty well'' by early adulthood.
The new research shows that people born weighing less than 1.5kg tended to be shorter, have fewer friends and achieve fewer educational qualifications than their peers by the age of 20.
The average birth weight for all New Zealand babies was about 3.4kg, but nearly all the VLBW children had been born about 18 weeks prematurely, researchers said.
The research, led by Prof Brian Darlow, a neonatal specialist at the University of Otago Christchurch campus, showed that, despite some impairments, the VLBW babies scored similarly to their peers at age 20, on a range of other measures of health and social functioning.
Prof Darlow said that while VLBW participants did tend to be more socially isolated and achieve less academically, they were as happy with their quality of life as their peers.
The study also indirectly highlighted the importance of having a strong support system for children facing such challenges, he said in an interview.
Such children clearly benefited from New Zealand's free and inclusive public health system, and the significant backing also provided in schools.
Parents also ''by and large put enormous time and effort into these kids'', Prof Darlow said.
With strong support, such young adults ''can do all sorts of things''.
Without such backing, there would be ''a very different outcome'', he said.
Asked about why such children apparently proved so resilient in early adulthood, Prof Darlow said the Otago research did not deal with this, but it might be that their background of facing and dealing with challenges as they were growing up had also helped them in early adulthood.
The Otago study showed VLBW babies were, as young adults:
• On average 5.6kg lighter and 4.2cm shorter than their peers.
• Half as likely to have a tertiary qualification.
• Less likely to engage in romantic partner relationships.
But the study found no significant differences between high school completion, involvement in paid employment and after-tax income, close family relationships and quality of life and overall functioning.
Prof Darlow has studied all New Zealand VLBW infants born in 1986 since their birth. This study involved more than 200 people.
Results were published in the latest edition of the prestigious Paediatrics journal.
Prof Darlow said there was clear evidence that in their early years VLBW infants had increased rates of problems such as cognitive delay and emotional and behavioural issues.
But before this study ''we didn't have any information in New Zealand'' to demonstrate if these problems persisted into adulthood.
