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Neonatal intensive care and late preterm infants: health and family functioning at three years

Jennifer E McGowan1, Fiona A Alderdice1, Jackie Boylan2

  • 1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom.

Early Human Development
|February 4, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Late preterm infants (LPIs) requiring neonatal intensive care (NIC) showed similar health outcomes at age three. However, their families reported increased healthcare visits and challenges in social and physical functioning.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Late preterm infants (34+0 to 36+6 weeks gestation) represent a significant proportion of neonatal intensive care admissions.
  • These infants are considered at higher risk for adverse outcomes compared to full-term infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the health outcomes and family functioning of late preterm infants who required neonatal intensive care up to three years of age.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study in Northern Ireland included 225 late preterm infants (2006).
  • The study compared 103 infants admitted to NICU with 122 infants not requiring NICU or requiring only brief special care.
  • Health outcomes were assessed using the Health Status Questionnaire, health service usage via parent report, and family functioning with the PedsQL™ Family Impact Module.

Main Results:

  • Late preterm infants requiring NICU demonstrated comparable health outcomes at three years to those who did not.
  • Parents of infants requiring NICU reported more frequent GP and specialist visits during the child's third year.
  • Mothers of infants requiring NICU reported significantly lower social and physical functioning, communication difficulties, and increased worry.

Conclusions:

  • Late preterm infants generally have similar health outcomes at three years, irrespective of NICU admission.
  • Increased healthcare utilization and family functioning challenges in infants requiring NICU warrant further investigation.
Abstract

Keywords:
Early childhoodFollow-upHealth service usageHealth statusImpact on familyLate preterm infantsNeonatal admission

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