Premature Births in the US Have Been Surging, CDC Reveals; Why Is This the Case?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of early-term and preterm births across the US increased between 2014 and 2022.

Increase in Premature Birth Rates in the US

The rate of preterm births went up by 12% between 2014 and 2022. Simultaneously, early-term birth rates went up by 20%. Preterm births are among the top reasons behind the deaths of infants across the US.

According to the authors behind the National Vital Statistics report of the CDC, gestational age is a significant predictor of long-term and short-term morbidity and early mortality. The authors add that preterm births have the highest risk of adverse outcomes. However, the risk is also higher for early-term births than full-term ones.

Provisional data from the CDC reveals that in 2022, more than three million babies were born. Among these, more than 318,000 were preterm births.

From 2014 to 2019, the preterm birth rate increased by 2% each year. During the pandemic, the preterm birth rate went down by 1% in 2020 and up by 4% in 2021. In 2022, it declined once more by 1%.

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Premature Birth

A preterm birth refers to when babies are born before they reach their 37th gestation week, while an early-term birth happens when babies are taken at 37 to 38 weeks of a full pregnancy.

During the period of gestation, crucial development takes place on a nearly daily basis. This crucial growth and development go on until the last weeks of pregnancy. Various health conditions could lead to preterm births. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, stress, issues with the placenta or uterus, inflammation, or infection.

Babies who are prematurely born typically experience serious health issues, especially if they are born much earlier. The earlier a baby's birth, the higher the health risks.

These babies could also face significant complications in their development. Such complications include an underdeveloped respiratory system, which could lead to issues with breathing as well as vision, hearing, and behavior.

One of the reasons behind the rise in the preterm birth rate is that more women have been waiting until later in life before having their babies. Being pregnant beyond 35 years of age is already considered advanced maternal age. This boosts the preterm birth risk.

Early cesarean sections, as well as early induction, are two other links to preterm birth causes.

Moreover, according to Dr. Zsakeba Henderson, a gynecologist and obstetrician as well as a senior health advisor from the Health Quality of the National Institute for Children, pregnant people who get infected with COVID-19 have a 40% higher risk of having premature labor. Moreover, lockdowns and delays or changes in care over the pandemic could have led to prenatal care gaps.