Hospitalization of very low birth weight children at school age.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether very low birth weight (VLBW) increases the risk of hospitalization at school age.


METHODS
Prospective, multisite cohort study.


METHODS
Selected from a previous multisite, hospital-based trial, 611 VLBW children, and, from a prior representative sample, 724 children who weighed 1501 to 2500 gm and 533 who weighed > 2500 gm. All the children were re-contacted at 8 to 10 years of age for this study.


METHODS
Maternal interview with the use of standardized questions.


RESULTS
Hospitalization in year before interview.


RESULTS
The VLBW children were three or four times more likely to be rehospitalized than children of normal birth weight, both in the year before the interview (7% vs 2%) and since birth (50% to 60% vs 22%). Morbidity and Medicaid coverage increased the risk of hospitalization in the year before the interview; non-white race decreased it. After control for other factors, however, lower birth weight remained a significant risk factor for hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
The VLBW children continue to have an increased risk of hospitalization; the risk is similar in magnitude to that seen in infancy.
McCormick
M C
MC
Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
Workman-Daniels
K
K
Brooks-Gunn
J
J
Peckham
G J
GJ
D001722:Birth Order; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008484:Medicaid; D009518:New York; D009820:Ohio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044469:Racial Groups; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013781:Texas; D014481:United States