Outcome of Late Preterm Infants at the University Hospital of the West Indies

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of late preterm infants at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) over a 2-year period. Design and Methods A retrospective, descriptive, case-controlled study was performed. Data were extracted from the maternal and neonatal medical records of 163 late preterm infants and matched term controls. Descriptive analyses were performed comparing morbidity and mortality between the groups. Results There was an overall incidence of 3.8% late preterm births. Late preterm infants were more likely to require admission to the neonatal unit than term controls (odds ratio:13.6; confidence interval: 7.95-23.34; p < 0.001) and they had a longer mean duration of stay (p < 0.05). During admission, late preterm infants had a significantly higher incidence of hypothermia, neonatal jaundice, and need for respiratory support than term controls (p < 0.05). There, however, was no increased risk of mortality. Mothers of late preterm infants had a higher incidence of hypertension in pregnancy, prolonged rupture of membranes (p < 0.001), and operative delivery than mothers of term controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion Late preterm infants at the UHWI were shown to be at increased risk of morbidity. This finding has implications for antenatal care, timing of delivery, and monitoring of these infants postdelivery.