Abstract

A substantial body of research suggests that ‘race’ or ‘ethnicity’ may impact the prognosis following extreme preterm birth. However, the definitions of these classifications remain unclear. Often, there is an unsupported assumption of biological differences among various ethnic groups. Moreover, there is a lack of transparency in how researchers utilize these categories and determine individual affiliations, resulting in inconsistent findings in the literature. The primary aim of considering and discussing prognostic factors is to enhance decision-making at the limit of viability. Incorporating ethnicity as a prognostic factor, however, does not advance this objective. Instead, it may have adverse effects on families experiencing extreme preterm birth. This article contends, therefore, that the implications of including ethnicity as a prognostic factor in guidelines, discussions, or decision-making for extreme preterm birth deserve careful consideration.