Cardiopulmonary Preterm Screening Study

Researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia are calling for people born preterm (ages 6-45) to join a landmark statewide lung and heart health study.

What is the Cardiopulmonary Preterm Screening Study?

The Kids Research Institute Australia is leading a landmark statewide study to investigate long-term heart and lung health across the lifespan, creating Western Australia’s first screening framework to catch these risks sooner.

Around 3,000 WA babies (one in ten) are born preterm every year. Research from The Kids shows that many children born very preterm experience ongoing breathing problems and reduced lung function, with some developing early signs of chronic lung disease.

Being born preterm doesn’t just affect the lungs – it can also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.

Despite the well-established cardiorespiratory risks faced by people born preterm, there is currently no coordinated heart and lung health follow-up after children leave neonatal services.

Many children and adults born preterm may have unrecognised heart and lung problems, delaying intervention until avoidable complications have developed and opportunities to improve long-term health outcomes have been lost.

The study will create a complete snapshot of the challenges faced by people born preterm across WA. By uncovering previously unrecognised health issues and tracking how outcomes change over time, we hope to generate the vital evidence needed to guide future screening programs, referral pathways and clinical models of care.

Who can take part?

People born preterm (less than 37 weeks gestation)
Aged between 6 and 45 years old
Living in WA

What does the study involve?

Lung function tests
Cardiovascular health checks
Health & lifestyle questionnaire

To make taking part as convenient as possible for families and individuals across Perth and regional WA, appointments are available at several locations:

Perth Children’s Hospital: for participants under 18
Community health sites: including Respiratory Care WA locations statewide and the Institute for Respiratory Health
University partner clinics: School of Human Sciences at The University of Western Australia

Is it safe?

This study has been approved by the Child and Adolescent Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee.

Anyone with concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study should contact the HREC Chair on (08) 6456 8639 or CAHS.Ethics@health.wa.gov.au and quote study number GS0000008635.