Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

In the past 40 years, there have been vast improvements in the management and survival of those born at extremely low birth weight (ELBW; < 1000 g). Although the first generations of ELBW survivors are now well into adulthood, premature infants have been found to differentially respond to pain. However, there has been no research regarding long-term differences in pain in those born at ELBW compared to NBW controls. The objective of this study was to compare the severity and stability of pain concerns in those born at ELBW and NBW from adolescence to adulthood. 84 ELBW survivors born between 1977 and 1982 and 78 NBW controls had complete data present at ages 12-16 (Adolescent), 22-26 (Young Adult), and 30-35 (Adult). Participants were asked to rate pain concerns at 12-16, 22-26, and 30-35 years of age. A measure of physical pain concerns was created by summing the following items on a validated self-report measure, "Aches and pains," "Headaches," "Nausea," "Skin Problems," and "Stomach aches." ELBW survivors did not differ on a composite measure of physical pain concerns when compared to their NBW peers, suggesting the long-term outcome for some ELBW adults may not be characterized by increased self-reported levels of pain. Overall, pain concerns decreased across the lifespan; however, there was a trend towards the ELBWs exhibiting an increase in pain at ages 30-35 compared to NBW controls. It is important to compare the severity and stability of pain concerns in ELBW and NBW controls, in order for health care professionals to better understand the potential health consequences of premature birth. This will lead to more accurate predictions regarding quality of life for those born at ELBW across the lifespan. Furthermore, intervention programs designed to decrease pain concerns in ELBW survivors can be targeted at specific age groups that are found to experience heightened levels of physical pain.