Online clinical tool to estimate risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm infants

Rachel G Greenberg1, Scott A McDonald2, Matthew M Laughon3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA rachel.greenberg@duke.edu.

Insights

An online estimator predicts bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death in preterm infants using clinical data. This tool aids prognostication and BPD prevention efforts.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Clinical Informatics

Background:

  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a significant complication in extremely preterm infants.
  • Accurate prediction of BPD severity and mortality is crucial for clinical management and research.
  • Existing predictive models may not fully utilize readily available clinical data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate an online estimator for predicting BPD severity or death in preterm infants.
  • To identify key demographic and clinical factors influencing BPD risk.
  • To create a tool for improved clinical prognostication and quality improvement initiatives.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of a prospective registry of infants (501-1250g birth weight, 23-28 weeks' gestation) from the US Neonatal Research Network (2011-2017).
  • Development of multinomial regression models to estimate probabilities of death or BPD (grades 1-3) at specific postnatal days (1, 3, 7, 14, 28).
  • Definition of BPD based on respiratory support at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age.

Main Results:

  • Birth weight was the primary predictor of BPD/death on postnatal day 1.
  • Mode of respiratory support became the most predictive factor from postnatal day 3 to 28.
  • Predictive accuracy increased over time, with C-statistics ranging from 0.674 on day 1 to 0.741 on day 28.
  • A web-based model was developed using these findings.

Conclusions:

  • Readily available clinical data can accurately estimate the probability of BPD or death in extremely preterm infants.
  • The developed online tool can assist in clinical prognostication and quality improvement for BPD prevention.
  • This predictive model offers a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers in managing BPD.
Abstract