Very premature infants: towards better care

Born too soon, very premature infants are particularly vulnerable and need appropriate care. The European project EPICE (Effective Perinatal Intensive Care in Europe) examines how medical practices based on scientific evidence are incorporated into the care of these neonates . The study, coordinated by Inserm and published in The British Medical Journal , highlights the underuse of four effective practices for improving their survival and long-term health, and estimates its impact on mortality and morbidity. Very premature infants, born before 32 weeks of gestation, (8th month of pregnancy), represent 1'2% of all births. For these neonates, the risks of mortality and long-term neurological disorders are higher than for infants born at full term. It is essential to provide them with appropriate care in order to guarantee them better health. The EPICE project created a population cohort in 2011, comprising all very premature infants from 19 regions in 11 countries of the European Union (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom).