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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
A common problem for neonatal intensive care units: late preterm infants, a prospective study with term controls in a
Istemi Han Celik1, Gamze Demirel, Fuat Emre Canpolat
1Division of Neonatology, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Mersin Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Mersin, Turkey. istemihancelik@gmail.com
Insights
Late preterm infants face higher risks for medical complications and poorer outcomes compared to term infants. Close monitoring and preventive strategies are crucial for these vulnerable newborns after birth.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Late preterm infants (34-36 weeks gestation) exhibit physiological and metabolic immaturity.
- These infants have increased risks for respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, sepsis, feeding difficulties, and neurodevelopmental issues.
- The incidence of late preterm birth is rising globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical and demographic characteristics of late preterm infants.
- To assess short-term outcomes and clinical courses of late preterm infants admitted to the NICU.
- To compare the morbidity and mortality rates of late preterm infants with those of term infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from 605 late preterm and 1477 term infants admitted to a NICU over a 1-year period (June 2010-May 2011).
- Comparison of admission diagnoses, hospitalization duration, mortality, and rehospitalization rates between the two groups.
- Calculation of incidence rates based on total deliveries.
Main Results:
- Late preterm infants represented 30% of NICU admissions, with a mean gestational age of 35 1/7 weeks and birth weight of 2352g.
- Higher rates of respiratory distress (46.5%), low birth weight (17.5%), jaundice (13.7%), and feeding difficulties (13.1%) were observed in late preterm infants.
- Mortality (2.1%) and rehospitalization (4.4%) rates were significantly higher in late preterm infants compared to term infants (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Late preterm infants experience significantly higher morbidity and mortality rates than term infants.
- Increased vigilance and targeted preventive strategies are essential for managing late preterm infants post-birth.
- Further research into developing effective preventive measures for late preterm infant complications is warranted.
Abstract:
Compared with term infants, late preterm infants are immature physiologically and metabolically, and have higher risks for medical complications such as respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, sepsis, feeding difficulty and poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. The incidence of late preterm birth is increasing. We evaluated the clinical and demographic characteristics, short-term outcomes and clinical courses of late preterm infants admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Data from NICU admissions of 605 late preterm and 1477 term infants in the 1-year period between June 2010 and May 2011 were analyzed. There were 2004 late preterm deliveries and 18,854 total deliveries. Of late preterm infants, 30% were admitted to the NICU. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 35(1/7) weeks and 2352 g, respectively. The admission diagnoses were respiratory distress (46.5%), low birth weight (17.5%), jaundice (13.7%), feeding difficulty (13.1%), polycythemia (8.1%) and hypoglycemia (4%); these morbidity rates were higher than those in term infants (p < 0.001). The overall mean hospitalization period was 7.5 ± 9.1 days. The respective mortality and rehospitalization rates were 2.1% and 4.4%, which were higher than those for term infants (p < 0.001). In conclusion, late preterm infants should be followed closely for the complications just after birth, and preventive strategies should be developed.
