Gothenburg Researchers Quantify High Societal Costs and Long-Term Support Needs for Infants Born Before 24 Weeks

Gothenburg researchers find infants born before 24 weeks cost SEK 1.7M in their first year, with needs shifting to long-term societal support as they grow.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 11:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the University of Gothenburg.

The Initial Investment in Survival Children born before the 24-week threshold face immediate, life-critical challenges, including the inability to breathe independently, regulate body temperature, or process nutrition. This necessitated intensive care in specialized neonatal units, often lasting several months. The study, published in Acta Paediatrica, tracked 344 children born in Sweden between 2007 and 2018. Researchers found that over 80% of total healthcare costs are concentrated within the first twelve months of life. This initial period is characterized by high-tech medical interventions and 24-hour monitoring, leading to the average cost of SEK 1.7 million ($160,000) per infant.

The Transition from Hospital to Home As these children grow, the nature of the economic and societal burden undergoes a fundamental shift. Hanna Gyllensten, Senior Lecturer at the Sahlgrenska Academy, noted that while acute healthcare costs drop after the first year, the requirement for societal intervention does not disappear. Instead, the financial weight moves from the hospital system to social services and family support systems. This "clear shift" suggests that the physiological impact of extreme prematurity creates a long-term ripple effect that requires a different type of infrastructure, focused on developmental support and family resilience rather than just medical survival.

Variable Needs and Early Complications The research emphasizes that costs are not uniform across all extremely preterm births. There are significant disparities in support needs based on the severity of complications experienced in the early weeks of life. Infants who suffer from severe respiratory, neurological, or intestinal complications during their stay in the neonatal unit are far more likely to require extensive, long-term assistance. These findings could prove vital for policymakers in tailoring support packages that are as dynamic as the children's needs, ensuring that resources are allocated to those with the most complex developmental trajectories.

A Call for Coordinated Follow-Up Programs Professor Chatarina Löfqvist, the study's lead author, argues that the data points toward a critical need for integrated follow-up programs. Currently, support measures can often be fragmented across different government departments. The goal for future healthcare models is to place the child and t...