A comparison of Wisconsin neonatal intensive care units with national data on outcomes and practices.
BACKGROUND
Improvements in neonatal care over the past 3 decades have increased survival of infants at lower birthweights and gestational ages. However, outcomes and practices vary considerably between hospitals.


OBJECTIVE
To describe maternal and infant characteristics, neonatal intensive care units (NICU) practices, morbidity, and mortality in Wisconsin NICUs, and to compare outcomes in Wisconsin to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development network of large academic medical center NICUs.


METHODS
The Newborn Lung Project Statewide Cohort is a prospective observational study of all very low birthweight (< or =1500 grams) infants admitted during 2003 and 2004 to the 16 level III NICUs in Wisconsin. Anonymous data were collected for all admitted infants (N=1463). Major neonatal morbidities, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were evaluated.


RESULTS
The overall incidence of BPD was 24% (8%-56% between NICUs); IVH incidence was 23% (9%-41%); the incidence of NEC was 7% (0%-21%); and the incidence of grade III or higher ROP was 10% (0%-35%).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence rates of major neonatal morbidities in Wisconsin were similar to those of a national network of academic NICUs.
Hagen
Erika W
EW
Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. ewarkentien@wisc.edu
Sadek-Badawi
Mona
M
Albanese
Aggie
A
Palta
Mari
M
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology