Suboptimal BMI at 5 years after very preterm birth: too early to conclude?

According to the WHO, very preterm (VPT) birth, defined as birth before 32 weeks’ gestation, affects around 1.6 million infants annually, corresponding to approximately 1.2% of all newborns worldwide. Despite major advances in neonatal care, VPT birth remains a risk factor for postnatal growth restriction (PGR), a condition increasingly recognised as a critical early determinant of long-term health.