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Updated: May 10, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Mortality of very low birth weight infants by neonatal intensive care unit workload and regional group status
Sung-Hoon Chung1, Chae Young Kim1, Yong-Sung Choi2
1Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Background:
Very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) continue to face high mortality risk influenced by the care quality of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Under-standing the impact of workload and regional differences on these rates is crucial for improving outcomes.
Purpose:
This study aimed to assess how the structural and staffing attributes of NICUs influence the mortality rates of VLBWIs, emphasizing the significance of the availability of medical personnel and the regional distribution of care facilities.
Methods:
Data from 69 Korean NICUs collected by the Korean Neonatal Network between January 2015 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The NICUs were classified by various parameters: capacity (small, medium, large), nurse-to-bed ratio (1-4), and regional location (A, B, C). Pediatrician staffing was also analyzed and NICUs categorized by beds per pediatrician into low (≤10), medium (11-15), and high (≥16). The NICUs were classified by mortality rates into high-performance (1st and 2nd quartiles) and low-performance (3rd and 4th quartiles). Demographic, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression to explore the association between NICU characteristics and mortality rates.
Results:
This study included 4,745 VLBWIs (mean gestational age, 28.4 weeks; mean birth weight, 1,088 g; 55.4% male) and found significant variations in survival rates across NICUs linked to performance and staffing levels. High-performing NICUs, often with lower bed-to-staff ratios and advanced care levels, had higher survival rates. Notably, NICUs with 2 rather than 1 neonatologist were associated with reduced mortality rates. The study also underscored regional disparities, with NICUs in certain areas showing less favorable survival rates.
Conclusion:
Adequate NICU staffing and proper facility location are key to lowering the number of VLBWI deaths. Enhancing staffing and regional healthcare equity is crucial for improving the survival of this population.
