Just 1.7 percent of the full-term group received a disability pension in adulthood, compared to 10.6 percent of those who had been born between 23 and 27 weeks of gestation.
The smallest babies -- those born between 23 and 27 weeks -- who survived with no apparent medical disabilities were also 10 percent less likely to finish high school, 20 percent less likely to have completed college, 20 percent less likely to have a high income, 20 percent more likely to receive Social Security benefits and 20 percent less likely to have become parents than babies born full-term.
There was no association found between premature delivery and unemployment or criminal behavior, according to the study.
"It is important to emphasize that most premature children who survived without medical disabilities completed higher education, had good jobs and appeared to function well as adults," Moster said.
Dr. Jennifer Kloesz, a neonatologist at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, said the study's findings point to the need for parents to act as their child's advocate, long term.
"If you have a baby who's made it through the NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] relatively OK, you need to keep reminding your child's health-care team that your child was born prematurely and try to optimize their chances for staying on track with developmental skills. And, be sure to take advantage of whatever services schools offer for premature babies," she said.
More information
To learn more about the immediate health consequences for premature babies, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics.
