Distressed birth linked to long-term physical and mental health risks

Distressed birth linked to long-term physical and mental health risks | Image Credit: © Katecat - © Katecat - stock.adobe.com.

Distressed birth is linked to an increased risk of physical and mental problems later in life, according to research by 2 University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School professors.¹

Categories of distressed birth evaluated included newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care units, babies with low birth weights, and infants born preterm. These distressed births were more often observed in economically disadvantaged mothers who often had prior health issues.¹

“This research has important policy implications, especially as federal and state legislators are debating the future of publicly financed health care programs such as Medicaid,” said Michael T. French, co-author and chair of the Department of Health Management and Policy.¹

Focus on long-term health outcomes

According to investigators, prior studies focused on newborn survival, health complications, and use of medical care.² Therefore, the study was conducted to evaluate physical and mental health in young and middle-aged adults.

The data was published in Medical Care on April 30, 2025.¹ According to French, alongside overall health status, the research focused on the presence of chronic health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

Participants included respondents of Waves 4 and 5 of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health.² Outcomes in these patients were determined through multivariate regression models in each wave separately and a mixed-effects model for both waves combined.

Distressed birth and adult health

Comparisons were made for each subgroup of distressed birth with a population of non-distressed births. Neonatal intensive care unit admission, low birth weight, and preterm birth were all linked to significant adverse impacts on physical and mental health in young and middle-aged adults.²

Investigators concluded this data highlights a need for clinicians, policy makers, and public health advocates to invest in additional resources to prevent future distressed births. These interventions may include family planning, prenatal checkups and related care, and incentives for healthy behaviors during pregnancy.²

“If society can either prevent or minimize distressed births, or provide assistance to new mothers and infants soon thereafter, we can perhaps avoid very expensive health care costs related to inpatient hospital stays and emergency room visits,” said French.¹

Support evidence finds increased stroke risk

This data is supported by a study published in the European Heart Journal on June 24, 2025, highlighting an increase in long-term stroke risk among women with complications during pregnancy.³ The analysis included over 2 million women assessed across over 40 years.

Preterm birth, small for gestational age, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were considered adverse pregnancy outcomes. For overall stroke, 30-year incidence rates from these outcomes were 1.3%, 1.3%, 1.8%, 1.3%, and 1.5%, respectively.³

For total cumulative incidence, rates were 2.2%, 2.2%, 3.1%,1.9%, and 1.8%, respectively. In comparison, the overall cohort had a 30-year incidence rate of 0.9% and total cumulative incidence rate of 1.6%. This highlighted increased risks among women with complications during pregnancy.³

“Both women and their doctors should now recognize that pregnancy complications are an early signal for future stroke risk. This can help us identify high-risk women long before they suffer a stroke or other cardiovascular disease,” said Casey Crump, MD, PhD, MS, MPH, professor at UTHealth.

References

1. Research links birth issues to adult health deficits. University of Miami. July 10, 2025. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.newswise.com/articles/research-links-birth-issues-to-adult-health-deficits/?sc=dwhr&xy=10023887.
2. French MT, Mortensen K. Is a distressed birth associated with physical and mental health problems as an adult? Evidence from panel data. Medical Care. 2025. doi:10.1097/MLR.0000000000002156
3. Krewson C. Pregnancy complications linked to long-term stroke risk. July 8, 2025. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/pregnancy-complications-linked-to-long-term-stroke-risk.