Who Is At Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia?

The earlier a baby is born and the lower his or her weight at birth, the greater the chances the baby will develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Most babies who are diagnosed with BPD today weigh less than 3½ pounds, or 1,500 grams, at birth.

About one of every three newborns who weighs less than 2 pounds, or 1,000 grams, at birth gets BPD.

About 5,000 to 10,000 babies born in the United States each year develop BPD. The number of babies who develop BPD is higher than it was 30 years ago because doctors are now able to keep more babies who weigh less than 3 pounds at birth alive.

BPD develops in some babies who have mild or no respiratory distress syndrome. Most of these babies are born at extremely low birth weights or have one of the following conditions:

• Patent ductus arteriosus, a problem in the heart that is present at birth
• Sepsis, a serious bacterial infection in the bloodstream