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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
Inadequate oral feeding as a barrier to discharge in moderately preterm infants
Laura Edwards1,2, C Michael Cotten1, P Brian Smith1
1Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
Objectives:
The objectives describe the frequency that inadequate oral feeding (IOF) is the reason why moderately preterm (MPT) infants remain hospitalized and its association with neonatal morbidities.
Study Design:
Prospective study using the NICHD Neonatal Research Network MPT Registry. Multivariable logistic regression was used to describe associations between IOF and continued hospitalization at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA).
Result:
A total of 6017 MPT infants from 18 centers were included. Three-thousand three-seventy-six (56%) remained hospitalized at 36 weeks PMA, of whom 1262 (37%) remained hospitalized due to IOF. IOF was associated with RDS (OR 2.02, 1.66-2.46), PDA (OR 1.86, 1.37-2.52), sepsis (OR 2.36, 95% 1.48-3.78), NEC (OR 16.14, 7.27-35.90), and BPD (OR 3.65, 2.56-5.21) compared to infants discharged and was associated with medical NEC (OR 2.06, 1.19-3.56) and BPD (OR 0.46, 0.34-0.61) compared to infants remaining hospitalized for an alternative reason.
Conclusion:
IOF is the most common barrier to discharge in MPT infants, especially among those with neonatal morbidities.
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