The impact of neonatal treatment and interventions in preterm infants on neurodevelopmental and psychiatric outcomes - an international population-based study.

Due to the highly specialized care provided in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), neonatal mortality rates have substantially declined, especially in preterm infants.

Nevertheless, preterm infants face high risks of developing major neurodevelopmental disorders, and these risks increase with decreasing gestational age.

Currently, there is a paucity of high-quality research to guide much neonatal practice, leading to variation in both clinical care and neonatal outcomes.

In this research project, we will use cutting edge methodology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced statistical methods, in the analyses of uniquely rich population data sources available in Sweden and in British Columbia (BC), Canada.

This project aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding neonatal characteristics and treatments that influence risks of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric outcomes in childhood and early adulthood.

We will include ~3.0 million births from 1998-2020 in Sweden and BC, which will be the largest study ever conducted to examine such associations.

As 5-12% of all infants are born preterm, addressing the evidence gap on neonatal interventions is likely to have broad application nationally and world-wide.

Long-term outcome studies are imperative for subsequent NICU decision-making, intervention strategies and to enhance early identification of those at risk of later neurodevelopmental problems.