Health and hospitalistions after discharge in extremely low birth weight infants.
Apart from higher rates of mortality and adverse neurosensory outcome, extremely low birth weight (ELBW, birth weight 500-999 g) children have more hospital readmissions and other health problems in the early years after discharge than do normal birth weight (NBW, birth weight >2499 g) children. Respiratory illnesses, including lower respiratory infections, are the dominant cause for hospital readmission. ELBW survivors with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) have even more ill-health and hospital readmissions than do ELBW survivors without BPD. ELBW survivors require closer surveillance after discharge, not only for adverse neurosensory outcome, but also for other general health problems in early childhood.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the Royal Women's Hospital, 132 Grattan Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. lwd@unimelb.edu.au
Lex W
LW
Doyle
Geoffrey
G
Ford
Noni
N
Davis
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000592:standards; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors