[Mortality and morbidity of preterm infants--a synopsis of the german neonatal census 2001]

The German Neonatal Census provides epidemiological data in the field of perinatology particularly concerning the rates of preterm birth and the mortality and morbidity of preterm infants.

All but two inquiries in Germany in 2001 were analyzed, covering 87% of all live births.

The transfer rate from obstetric departments to children's hospitals/neonatological wards was 14.6% of which 87.4% were singletons, 11.5% were twins and 1.1% were triplets or higher order births. 1.3% of all admitted patients were born before 32 weeks gestational age and the mortality rate was 9.1%. After 28 weeks gestational age the mortality rate was lower for twins than for singletons, after 32 weeks gestational age it was lower for triplets as well. In 17.4% of all patients born before 28 weeks gestational age a high grade intracranial hemorrhage (B III and IV) was found and in 6.2% a periventricular leukomalacia was seen. 15.8% of all surviving preterm infants before 28 weeks developed ROP 3 + >.

A synopsis of all neonatal censuses is an appropriate tool to study morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. Comparing the results with published data of large cohorts make the presented results reasonable although documentation seems to need some improvement in several fields.