Nutrition of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia after hospital discharge – Part I

Abstract

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains the most common severe complication of preterm birth. In addition to well known risk factors, nutrition plays an important role in normal lung development and maturation. Nutrition has a direct effect on the developing lung because it can modulate lung structure. Lung growth and maturation continue after hospital discharge and BPD patient’s nutritional requirements and feeding problems will need a specialized multidisciplinary approach during follow-up. Our aim is to review the scientific literature on the most relevant aspects of nutrition of BPD patients after hospital discharge.

Keywords

• preterm infants
• bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• hospital discharge
• nutrition
• human milk
• formula feeding
• undernutrition