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Updated: Mar 23, 2026
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
[USING INFORMATION FROM COMPUTERIZED MEDICAL FILES TO DETERMINE THE RISK OF POOR OUTCOME IN EXTREMELY PRETERM
Insights
Identifying risk factors for preterm infants is crucial. Early identification of Bedouin origin and late sepsis can help predict abnormal outcomes, guiding necessary interventions for high-risk children.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health
Context:
- Rising rates of preterm births necessitate early identification of at-risk infants.
- Abnormal outcomes in preterm survivors pose significant challenges for families and healthcare providers.
- Computerized health records offer a potential source for early risk factor assessment.
Purpose:
- To evaluate if data from computerized files can identify preterm infants at increased risk of abnormal outcomes without requiring a neurodevelopmental exam.
- To identify specific risk factors present from birth up to three years of age that correlate with adverse long-term outcomes in preterm children.
Summary:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed 74 preterm infants (<29 weeks gestation and/or <1000g).
- Factors like Bedouin origin, low 1-minute Apgar score, late sepsis, x-ray exposure, specialist visits, and hospitalization were associated with abnormal outcomes.
- Multivariate analysis identified Bedouin origin, late sepsis, and hospital-based specialist visits as significant predictors, increasing risk more than fourfold.
Impact:
- Findings highlight the importance of early identification of Bedouin origin and late sepsis before hospital discharge.
- Emphasizes the need for accessible local follow-up care for high-risk preterm infants.
- Underscores the critical role of preventing late sepsis and ensuring specialist awareness of preterm infant follow-up status.
Introduction:
During the last two decades preterm deliveries have been rising with increasing numbers of survivors at risk of abnormal outcomes. Characterization of risk factors for abnormal outcome is important for caregivers and patients' families. We hypothesized that it is possible to evaluate significant risk factors from computerized files early in life.
Objectives:
To evaluate data from computerized files that could help identify children born preterm at increased risk of abnormal outcomes without a neurodevelopmental exam.
Methods:
This is a retrospective cohort study including children born at less than 29 weeks gestation and/or less than 1000 grams. The long term outcome was defined using data from the local child developmental center. Risk factors were retrieved from computerized files from birth until 3 years of age and assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis.
Results:
A total of 74 children were included in the study; 30 with abnormal outcomes. The following parameters: Bedouin origin (p = 0.033), low 1 minute Apgar score (p = 0.044), late sepsis (p = 0.017), exposure to x-rays (p = 0.033), hospital based specialist visits (p = 0.017) and hospitalization (p = 0.035) were more common in the abnormal outcome group or increased its risk in univariate analysis. Bedouin origin (OR = 3.81-5.11), late sepsis (OR = 4.07-4.94) and hospital based specialist visits (OR = 4.67, 95% CI = 1.11-19.55) increased more than fourfold the risk of abnormal outcomes in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
This study has important implications as Bedouin origin and llate sepsis can be determined before discharge. Furthermore, follow-up of high risk children should be locally accessible. Prevention of late sepsis is of upmost importance, as well as awareness of specialists to the follow-up status of children born preterm.
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