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Mortality in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in South American NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network: timing and causes
Alberto Toso1, Catalina Vaz Ferreira2, Tamara Herrera2
1Departamento de Neonatología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile. aatoso@ uc.cl.
Insights
Mortality for very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) remains high at 26%. Key differences in causes of death were observed between delivery room and neonatal intensive care unit settings.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Perinatology
- Pediatric Critical Care
Background:
- Mortality rates for very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) have stagnated at approximately 26% over the last 16 years within the NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network.
- Understanding the specific causes of mortality is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the causes of death in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs).
- To identify differences in mortality causes based on the location of death (delivery room vs. neonatal intensive care unit).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of a prospective, multicenter cohort study.
- Inclusion of newborn infants born between 24 and 31+6 weeks of gestation and weighing 500-1500g.
- Analysis of causes of death in the delivery room (DR) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), with survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier test.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in the causes of death were identified between the delivery room (DR) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) settings.
- Infectious and respiratory conditions emerged as the primary factors contributing to mortality after admission to the NICU.
Conclusions:
- The location of death significantly influences the identified causes in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs).
- Infections and respiratory issues are critical concerns for VLBWIs requiring NICU care.
Introduction:
Mortality in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) has remained at ~26% in the past 16 years in the NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network.
Objective:
Mortality in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) has remained at ~26% in the past 16 years in the NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network.
Population And Methods:
Observational, multicenter cohort study; retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively. Newborn infants born between 24 and 31+6 weeks of gestation age with a birth weight between 500 and 1500 g in the 26 sites of the NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network were included. The causes of death were analyzed depending on whether they occurred in the delivery room (DR) or in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The postnatal age at time of death was determined using the KaplanMeier test.
Results:
Observational, multicenter cohort study; retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively. Newborn infants born between 24 and 31+6 weeks of gestation age with a birth weight between 500 and 1500 g in the 26 sites of the NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network were included. The causes of death were analyzed depending on whether they occurred in the delivery room (DR) or in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The postnatal age at time of death was determined using the KaplanMeier test.
Conclusions:
Important differences were observed in the causes of death of VLBWIs depending on their occurrence in the DR or the NICU. Infectious and respiratory conditions were the most relevant factors following admission to the NICU.
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