Survival of individuals who are born preterm or with low birth weight has increased owing to significant breakthroughs in neonatal intensive care practices that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, antenatal corticosteroids, surfactant therapy, and high-frequency ventilation.

As a result, a generation of infants born preterm or with low birth weight has now reached adulthood.

The study by Mendonça et al1 contributes to increasing the current understanding of the long-term sequelae of preterm birth or low birth weight by presenting a meta-analysis of the literature that investigates the association of preterm birth or low birth weight with social outcomes in adulthood, including the establishment and quality of romantic relationships, sexual activity, parenthood, and peer social support.