Introduction: Preterm births are increasing globally, estimated at an annual incidence of 15 million. Of these, about 80% are moderate and late preterm births occurring between 32-37 weeks of gestation. Though large in size they have much more morbidity and mortality compared to their term counterparts.

Methods: Retrospective case control study conducted in a referral perinatal centre in South India during the period January 2011 to June 2013. Inborn late preterms (LPT) were cases and term babies born during the same period were controls. Maternal and neonatal demography, morbidity and mortality data were collected. Means and standard deviations were used to compare numerical variables between case and control groups using Student’s t test and the Mann-Whitney test; Pearson’s chi-square was used for categorical variables.

Results: A total of 1933 babies were included in the study of which 233 (12%) were late preterms. Elderly mothers, conceived with ovulation induction, multiple gestation and with antenatal complications had significantly higher number of LPT births. There were more CS and PROM noted. Parity and newborn gender did not show significant differences. There were larger numbers of small and large for gestational age babies among the late preterms. NICU admissions, phototherapy, sepsis treatments, respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, duration of hospital stay and cost of stay, mortality and readmission rates were higher among the LPT babies.

Conclusion: Late preterms had a longer and more morbid course after delivery as compared to their term peers. They represent a high risk group which may go unrecognized.

Keywords: Late Preterms; Morbidity.