Disappointing results: a call to action

We read with a great deal of enthusiasm and interest the recent article by Doyle et al. entitled “Ventilation in extremely preterm infants and respiratory function at 8 years of age” recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine (1). This well designed, cohort study examined respiratory outcomes at 8 years of age in children born extremely preterm in 3 different time periods (cohorts): 1991–1992, 1997, and 2005. The authors hypothesized that respiratory outcomes would improve from the earliest time period to the last time period, with less oxygen dependence at 36 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA) and improved lung function at 8 years of age.