BACKGROUND. Infants born preterm are at increased risk of adverse health and
developmental outcomes. Mortality and morbidity after preterm birth impose a burden on
finite public sector resources. This study considers the economic consequences of preterm
birth from birth to adult life and compares the costs accruing to those born preterm with those
born at term. METHODS. A decision-analytic model was constructed to estimate the costs to
the public sector over the first 18 years after birth, stratified by week of gestational age at …