At the 2025 jENS Congress, Yanlin Zhou et al (Warwick, UK) presented an abstract examining socioeconomic disparities and identified neonatal and sociodemographic risk factors among individuals born very preterm (VPT) or with very low birth weight (VLBW).

Their findings show that while many individuals born very preterm or with very low birth weight  transition into adulthood similarly to their term-born peers, persistent socioeconomic disparities remain. Adults born VPT/VLBW have lower educational attainment, reduced participation in employment, and a higher likelihood of receiving social benefits. These findings align with a recent multi-cohort individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis involving 11 international cohorts, which demonstrated significantly lower odds of higher education and employment, and nearly fourfold higher odds of social benefit use among VPT/VLBW adults.

Across the analysis, Neurosensory Impairment (NSI) emerged as the strongest predictor of adverse socioeconomic outcomes, increasing the likelihood of social benefit use nearly sevenfold. Importantly, even VPT/VLBW adults without NSI remained at elevated socioeconomic risk, indicating that the consequences of preterm birth extend beyond identifiable neurodevelopmental disabilities. Additional contributing factors included neonatal complications, lower gestational age and birth weight, and sociodemographic disadvantages such as lower maternal education.

The study concludes that ‘Early interventions in the NICU that reduce medical complications, along with enhanced educational support throughout childhood, may help mitigate long-term socioeconomic disparities for individuals born VPT/VLBW.’