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When is My Baby Going Home? Moderate to Late Preterm Infants are Discharged at 36 Weeks Based on Admission Data

Alanna Higgins Joyce1, Arnab Sengupta2, Craig F Garfield1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.

American Journal of Perinatology
|December 31, 2019
PubMed

Insights

For uncomplicated moderate to late preterm infants, discharge typically occurs around 36 weeks postmenstrual age. However, infants who are small for gestational age or have specific medical conditions may experience a longer Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Infant Care

Background:

  • Moderate to late preterm infants represent the largest group of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admissions.
  • Limited data exists regarding the length of stay (LOS) for these infants.
  • Families frequently inquire about discharge timing for their hospitalized infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate how admission characteristics influence discharge timing for uncomplicated moderate to late preterm infants.
  • To provide data that can inform families about expected discharge timelines.
  • To identify factors associated with prolonged length of stay in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective electronic chart review of 12,498 infants admitted to the NICU.
  • Inclusion criteria: inborn infants with gestational age between 32 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks.
  • Analysis of admission diagnoses and gestational age to determine impact on length of stay.

Main Results:

  • A total of 3,240 infants met the inclusion criteria.
  • Mean postmenstrual age at discharge was 36 3/7 weeks.
  • Infants small for gestational age had a significantly increased LOS.
  • Specific diagnoses (e.g., respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal abstinence syndrome) were associated with longer LOS.

Conclusions:

  • Uncomplicated moderate to late preterm infants are typically discharged around 36 weeks postmenstrual age.
  • Small for gestational age status and certain medical conditions are predictors of extended hospitalization.
  • This information can aid clinicians in counseling families about discharge expectations.
Abstract

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