A population study. Mortality and morbidity after availability of surfactant therapy. Newborn Lung Project.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of recent changes in neonatal intensive care on the mortality and morbidity of very-low-birth-weight neonates (< 1501 g).


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Six neonatal intensive care units in Wisconsin and Iowa.


METHODS
All very-low-birth-weight neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care units the year before the availability of exogenous surfactant (n = 333), during the investigational new drug protocol for synthetic surfactant (Exosurf) (n = 347), and after the release of synthetic surfactant (n = 356) (designated as periods 1, 2, and 3, respectively).


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
The percentage of neonates receiving exogenous surfactant in the three periods was 3%, 37%, and 56%, and the percentage receiving antenatal steroids was 12%, 17%, and 27% (P = .0001 for increase in both modalities). The percentage of neonates dying in the three periods was 23%, 14%, and 19% (P = .05 for downward trend). The percentage of neonates with intraventricular hemorrhage decreased in the subgroup weighing between 700 and 1350 g (35%, 28%, and 24%) (P = .04) and increased in the subgroup weighing below 700 g (8%, 41%, and 45%) (P = .03). The percentage of neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia increased from 21% to 36% between periods 1 and 2 (P = .003) and decreased to 27% (P = .04) in period 3. Antenatal steroid use was strongly associated with the decrease in intraventricular hemorrhage (odds ratio, 0.35) and mortality risk (odds ratio, 0.20).


CONCLUSIONS
Several developments in care have contributed to changes in mortality risk, incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage, and the severity of respiratory disease in very-low-birth-weight infants.
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
M
M
Palta
M R
MR
Weinstein
G
G
McGuinness
D
D
Gabbert
W
W
Brady
M E
ME
Peters
D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
D013501:Surface-Active Agents