Pre-term birth leads to increased risk of asthma, wheezing disorders

Researchers have published findings strongly suggesting that preterm birth -- prior to 37 weeks gestation -- increases the risk of asthma and wheezing disorders during childhood, and that the risk of developing these conditions increases as the degree of prematurity increases. The findings are based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 studies that investigated the association between preterm birth and asthma/wheezing disorders among 1.5 million children.