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Improved outcome in very low birth weight infants from 1977 to 1983
Insights
Neonatal intensive care improved survival rates and reduced severe neurological issues in very low birth-weight infants. Quality of survival also saw improvements despite increased post-discharge mortality.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Very low birth-weight infants face significant mortality and neurological morbidity risks.
- Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) aim to mitigate these risks.
- Tracking outcomes is crucial for evaluating NICU effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze changes in mortality and neurological morbidity for very low birth-weight infants.
- To assess the impact of neonatal intensive care over a defined period.
- To evaluate improvements in survival rates and quality of survival.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 351 very low birth-weight infants.
- Data collected from the Children's Hospital Tübingen NICU between 1977 and 1983.
- Comparison of outcomes between early (1977-79) and later (1982-83) periods.
Main Results:
- Survival rate increased from 69.5% to 76.6%.
- Severe neurological sequelae decreased from 9.2% to 3.7%.
- Minor neurodevelopmental problems remained stable; post-discharge mortality increased.
Conclusions:
- Intensified neonatal intensive care effectively reduced mortality and severe neurological sequelae.
- Improvements in NICU care enhanced both survival rates and the quality of survival.
- Further research needed on post-discharge mortality factors.
Abstract:
Changes of mortality and neurological morbidity in 351 very low birth-weight infants cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Children's Hospital Tübingen during the years 1977 to 1983 are reported. The main finding was a survival rate increasing from 69.5% in 1977-79 to 76.6% in 1982-83 and a coinciding frequency of severe neurological sequelae decreasing from 9.2%-3.7%. The incidence of minor neurodevelopmental problems remained unchanged. However, mortality after discharge was found to be increased during the period observed. In conclusion, the intensification of neonatal intensive care in our hospital did not only reduce mortality but also the rate of severe neurological sequelae, thus not only survival rate but also the quality of survival could be improved.