World Prematurity Day is commemorated on November 17th to raise awareness about the situation of babies born prematurely and the importance of providing them with quality neonatal care. According to data shared by the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 13.4 million babies were born prematurely in 2020, representing more than 1 in 10 live births. Complications from this condition are the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age, responsible for approximately 900,000 deaths in 2019. The disparity in survival is stark: while in high-income countries almost all extremely premature babies survive, in low-income settings, over 90% die, a landscape that highlights the need for cost-effective and technological solutions. The integration of digital technology into prenatal care has become a transformative approach to improve access, efficiency, and quality of maternal health services. Digital innovations, including telemedicine platforms, mobile health (mHealth) applications, and wearable devices, enable real-time monitoring and personalized care during pregnancy. Early detection is fundamental to reducing the probability of premature birth, according to experts from Hospital Service Centers (CSH) in a report accessed by the Argentine News Agency. To detect early complications in high-risk pregnancies, advanced tools have been implemented: software for image analysis in ultrasounds, blood biomarkers (molecular tests and biosensors), wearables to monitor contractions and maternal-fetal heart rate, and digital platforms that integrate clinical data for early alerts. CSH experts explain that these solutions, for example, “allow for the detection of preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and signs of preterm labor before they become clinically obvious.” Innovation in Neonatal Intensive Care Units Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) are the center of treatment for premature babies, and technological innovation has redefined the quality of care. Modern NICUs incorporate state-of-the-art incubators and radiant warmers, intelligent non-invasive ventilation, precise infusion pumps, less invasive continuous monitoring systems, and digitally integrated environments that facilitate real-time clinical decision-making. These improvements, as specialists detail, “are designed to reduce adverse events, improve thermal control, and optimize the safe administration of drugs and fluids.” Continuous monitoring is a key piece, and experts emphasize that sensors and continuous monitors allow for the constant recording of heart rate, oxygen saturation, breathing, and temperature without the need for repeated interventions. “This constant information is essential for the early detection of apnea, bradycardias, desaturations, or infectious deterioration, and furthermore, wireless solutions improve mobility and skin-to-skin contact when indicated,” they detail. Another significant advancement is the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence. “AI and machine learning models analyze large volumes of data (continuous monitoring, clinical history, laboratory results) to identify subtle patterns that precede neonatal sepsis, respiratory failure, or the need for interventions,” they indicate. They also add: “These capabilities translate into predictive alerts that help optimize drug dosing and support decisions on extubation or discharge, always as support for clinical evaluation.” Specific examples of technologies that prevent unexpected consequences include AI-based predictive alarm systems that anticipate sepsis; infusion pumps with automatic occlusion detection to prevent overdose; incubators and thermal systems that maintain stable temperature to prevent hypothermia; and non-invasive sensors that reduce punctures and their associated risk.
