Short-term complications and mortality of late preterm infants

Abstract EN

Objectives: To identify the short-term complications and mortality of late preterm infants (34 0/7-36 6/7 weeks gestation) comparing to term infants (37 0/7-41 6/7 weeks gestation) who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and special care nursery (SCN) at King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC).

Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review of all late preterm and term infants who were born at KHMC in Jordan and admitted to NICU and SCN of KHMC from January first 2018 to December 31st, 2018.

The authors formulated a data sheet for late preterm and term infants that contains the following information; Clinical characteristics of each late preterm and term infants admitted to NICU and SCN including gestational age, birth weight, gender, mode of delivery, maternal diseases around the time of delivery like preeclampsia, diabetes, and prolonged rupture of membranes (PROM).

Morbidities involving both groups were documented including respiratory distress syndrome of newborn (RDS), transient tachypnea, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, jaundice needed phototherapy, sepsis, feeding problems, requirement of ventilation, surfactant, length of admission, and death.

Results: The total number of deliveries was 9195 singleton live births during the period of study.

Term babies’ birth rate was 90.8 %( 8352) and preterm babies <37 weeks gestation birth rate was 9.2 %( 843).

The birth rate of late preterm infants was 5.5% (510) out of them 252 babies admitted to NICU and SCN.

Late preterm infants compared to control group (term infants) had obviously more statistical significant complications such as RDS (P=0.000), transient tachypnea of newborn (P=0.001), hypoglycemia, (P=0.001), hypothermia (P=0.010), jaundice needed phototherapy (P=0.001), feeding problems (P=0.000) and sepsis (P=0.001).

Late preterm infants with respiratory distress required more respiratory support with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) (p=0.000) and mechanical ventilator (p=0.001).Surfactant given to 12(4.7%) late preterm babies compared to 3(0.7%) term babies.

Hospital stay was longer in late preterm infants and mortality rate was also significantly higher among late preterm infants (t691=7; p= 0.000).

Conclusion: Late preterm infants had increased duration of hospital stay, significant neonatal morbidity and higher mortality in comparison to term infants.