Association between NICU intensivist staffing and neonatal outcomes

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Healthcare Policy
• Public Health

Background:

• Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staffing models vary globally.
• The impact of dedicated NICU intensivist coverage on neonatal survival outcomes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between NICU intensivist staffing and survival outcomes in South Korean neonates.
• To determine if full-time NICU intensivist presence impacts short-term and long-term mortality rates.

Main Methods:

• Nationwide retrospective cohort study of neonates admitted to NICUs from January 2019 to December 2021.
• Comparison of survival outcomes between neonates in NICUs with and without dedicated intensivist coverage.
• Multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses to assess mortality risks.

Main Results:

• A total of 79,306 neonates were analyzed; 56.1% were in NICUs with registered intensivists.
• NICU intensivist group showed significantly lower odds of 30-day mortality (OR: 0.73; P=0.007).
• NICU intensivist group demonstrated a lower risk of 1-year all-cause mortality (HR: 0.79; P=0.001).

Conclusions:

• Dedicated NICU intensivist staffing is associated with improved short-term and long-term survival for neonates.
• Findings support policies promoting specialized staffing in neonatal intensive care.
• Optimizing NICU intensivist coverage may enhance neonatal survival rates nationwide.