Short-term outcome predictors in infants born at 23-24 gestational weeks.
OBJECTIVE
Outcome is uncertain in infants born at 23-24 gestational weeks. The aim of the present study was to identify possible early predictors of outcome in these infants.


METHODS
Data from the Swedish medical birth register (MBR) for live-born infants with gestational ages (GAs) 23 and 24 weeks, born during the time-period 2000-2002, were analysed in relation to short-term outcomes, that is survival and survival without severe brain damage (intraventricular haemorrhage [IVH] grades 3 and 4 and/or periventricular leukomalacia [PVL]).


RESULTS
In 57 infants born at 23 gestational weeks, survival was associated with birthweight (BW) (p = 0.018) and 5-min Apgar score (p = 0.020) on univariate analyses. In 99 infants born at 24 weeks of gestation, survival without severe brain damage correlated with BW (p = 0.039), birth type (singleton/multiple) (p = 0.017) and Apgar score at 1, 5 and 10 min (p = 0.028, 0.014 and 0.030, respectively). The best model for predicting survival without severe brain damage in infants born at 24 gestational weeks was based on 5-min Apgar score and birth type. The small number of live-born infants at 23 weeks of gestation did not allow for multiple logistic regression analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
The 5-min Apgar score is associated with short-term outcome in live-born infants at 23-24 gestational weeks. The association is stronger for infants born at 24 weeks of gestation.
Forsblad
Kristina
K
Department of Paediatrics, Helsingborg Hospital, Helsingborg, Sweden. kristina.forsblad@telia.com
Källén
Karin
K
Marsál
Karel
K
Hellström-Westas
Lena
L
D001034:Apgar Score; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013548:Sweden