title: Health-related quality of life in 5-year-old very low birth weight infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of preterm birth, the time of birth, and birth hospital level and district on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This national study included all very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs; birth weight <or= 1500 g or gestational age < 32 weeks) born in Finland between 2000 and 2003 (n = 1169; live-born, n = 900) and full-term controls (n = 368). Register data and parental questionnaires were used. The relationships among HRQoL and QALYs at age 5 years and preterm birth, time of birth, and the level and district of the birth hospital were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HRQoL at age 5 years was lower and 1.3 QALYs were lost in VLBWIs compared with controls. Regional differences in the QALYs of VLBWIs were found among the 5 university hospital districts. Birth hospital level or birth outside office hours had no effect on the QALYs of live-born VLBWIs. The adjusted HRQoL total score was not affected by birth outside office hours or by the birth hospital level or district.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in QALYs related to hospital district suggest variation in the care of VLBWIs that needs to be addressed.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. liisi.rautava@utu.fi
authors: Liisi
authors: L
authors: Rautava
authors: Unto
authors: U
authors: Häkkinen
authors: Emmi
authors: E
authors: Korvenranta
authors: Sture
authors: S
authors: Andersson
authors: Mika
authors: M
authors: Gissler
authors: Mikko
authors: M
authors: Hallman
authors: Heikki
authors: H
authors: Korvenranta
authors: Jaana
authors: J
authors: Leipälä
authors: Miika
authors: M
authors: Linna
authors: Mikko
authors: M
authors: Peltola
authors: Outi
authors: O
authors: Tammela
authors: Liisa
authors: L
authors: Lehtonen
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006306:Health Surveys; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors