Evaluation of neonatal intensive care for extremely low birth weight infants in Victoria over two decades: I. Effectiveness.
BACKGROUND
Although individual components of neonatal intensive care have proven efficacy, doubts remain about its overall effectiveness.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the changes in effectiveness of neonatal intensive care for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants over 2 decades.


METHODS
Population-based cohort study of consecutive ELBW infants born during 4 distinct eras: 1979-1980, 1985-1987, 1991-1992, and 1997, all followed to at least 2 years of age.


METHODS
The state of Victoria, Australia.


METHODS
All ELBW live births of birth weight 500 to 999 g in the state in the calendar years indicated (1979-1980 [n = 351]; 1985-1987 [n = 560]; 1991-1992 [n = 429]; 1997 [n = 233]). Survivors were assessed at 2 years of age by pediatricians and psychologists blinded to perinatal details. The follow-up rates were high for each ELBW cohort (1979-1980: 100% [89 of 89]; 1985-1987: 100% [212 of 212]; 1991-1992: 98% [237 of 241]; 1997: 99% [168 of 170]).


METHODS
Survival and quality-adjusted survival rates at 2 years of age.


RESULTS
The survival rate to 2 years of age improved significantly between successive eras (absolute increase and 95% confidence interval: 1985-1987 vs 1979-1980, 12.5% and 6.3%-18.4%; 1991-1992 vs 1985-1987, 18.3% and 12.1%-24.4%; 1997 vs 1991-1992, 16.8% and 9.2%-23.9%), as did the quality-adjusted survival rate (absolute increase: 1985-1987 vs 1979-1980, 12.4%; 1991-1992 vs 1985-1987, 13.8%; 1997 vs 1991-1992, 13.2%). Overall, the survival rate increased from approximately 1 in 4 (25%) in 1979-1980 to 3 in 4 (73%) in 1997, and the quality-adjusted survival rate also increased threefold, from 19% in 1979-1980 to 59% in 1997. The biggest gains in survival and quality-adjusted survival in the most recent era were in infants in lighter birth-weight subgroups.


CONCLUSIONS
The effectiveness of neonatal intensive care for ELBW infants in Victoria improved progressively from the late 1970s to the late 1990s.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, 132 Grattan St, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. lwd@unimelb.edu.au
Lex W
LW
Doyle
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016019:Survival Analysis; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014739:Victoria