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Neonatal morbidity in singleton late preterm infants compared with full-term infants
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. antonio.leone@usz.ch
Insights
Late preterm infants (34-36 weeks gestation) experience significantly higher short-term morbidity and longer hospital stays than full-term infants. These findings highlight increased healthcare needs for late preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Late preterm infants, born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation, represent a growing population with unique health considerations.
- Existing research suggests potential vulnerabilities in this group compared to full-term infants, necessitating further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that singleton late preterm infants have a higher incidence of short-term morbidity and longer hospitalizations than full-term infants.
- To quantify the differences in specific morbidities and hospital stay duration between these two infant groups.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, multicentre study analyzing electronic health data from five Swiss hospitals.
- Comparison of short-term outcomes between 530 late preterm infants and 1686 full-term infants.
- Exclusion of multiple gestations, fetal malformations, maternal drug use, and incomplete data; results corrected for gender imbalance.
Main Results:
- Late preterm infants showed significantly higher rates of respiratory distress (34.7% vs. 4.6%), hyperbilirubinemia (47.7% vs. 3.4%), hypoglycemia (14.3% vs. 0.6%), and hypothermia (2.5% vs. 0.6%).
- Hospitalization duration was longer for late preterm infants (mean 9.9 days vs. 5.2 days).
- The risk of at least one complication was 7.6 times higher in late preterm infants (70.8%) compared to full-term infants (9.3%).
Conclusions:
- Singleton late preterm infants exhibit a considerably higher rate of medical complications and prolonged hospital stays than matched full-term infants.
- These findings indicate a greater need for medical and financial resources for the care of late preterm infants.
- The study underscores the importance of targeted monitoring and resource allocation for late preterm neonates.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that singleton late preterm infants (34 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks of gestation) compared with full-term infants have a higher incidence of short-term morbidity and stay longer in hospital.
Methods:
In this retrospective, multicentre study, electronic data of children born at five hospitals in Switzerland were recorded. Short-term outcome of late preterm infants was compared with a control group of full-term infants (39 0/7 to 40 6/7 weeks of gestation). Multiple gestations, pregnancies complicated by foetal malformations, maternal consumption of illicit drugs and infants with incomplete documentation were excluded. The results were corrected for gender imbalance.
Results:
Data from 530 late preterm and 1686 full-term infants were analysed. Compared with full-term infants, late preterm infants had a significant higher morbidity: respiratory distress (34.7% vs. 4.6%), hyperbilirubinaemia (47.7% vs. 3.4%), hypoglycaemia (14.3% vs. 0.6%), hypothermia (2.5% vs. 0.6%) and duration of hospitalization (mean, 9.9 days vs. 5.2 days). The risk to develop at least one complication was 7.6 (95% CI: 6.2-9.6) times higher among late preterm infants (70.8%) than among full-term infants (9.3%).
Conclusion:
Singleton late preterm infants show considerably higher rate of medical complications and prolonged hospital stay compared with matched full-term infants and therefore need more medical and financial resources.
