[Current outcome quality in the care of preterm infants with birth weight less than 1 500 g as a basis for regionalisation of risk pregnancies].
BACKGROUND
For preterm infants an association between patient volume and mortality has been described.


METHODS
Outcome variables were evaluated for 28 hospitals in Baden-Württemberg for the years 2004-2008. Hospitals with high patient volume were compared to hospitals with a lower patient volume.


RESULTS
Outcomes for 1 164 infants in 2008 and for 4 775 infants in 2004-2008 were analysed. In 2008, mortality of preterm infants less than 32 weeks gestational age (GA) was 9.2% (n=402) in the 5 major hospitals compared to 6.5% (n=520) in the other hospitals (combined mortality 7.7%, n. s., chi-square test). In the years 2004-2008, mortality showed a greater variation in hospitals with a patient volume below 50 and mean mortality was 21.1% higher for infants less than 500 g BW. Hospitals with a patient volume >or= 50 had a lower mortality for infants with BW below 500 g and between 500 g and 749 g (18% and 11%, chi-square test: p<0.05 and <0.01, respectively). For preterm infants with GA below 24 weeks and between 24 and 25 weeks, patient volume and mortality were negatively correlated (p<0.01 and <0.0001, respectively). For infants with a BW >or= 750 g or a GA >or= 26 weeks patient volume had no effect on outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Regionalisation of preterm infants with BW less than 750 g and a GA less than 26 weeks may contribute to reduce mortality. Infants with BW >or= 750 g and a GA >or= 26 weeks may not benefit from indirect quality indicators such as patient volume.
Trotter
A
A
Klinik für Kinder und Jugendliche, Hegau-Bodensee-Klinikum, Singen.
Pohlandt
F
F
D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000401:mortality*; D015995:Prevalence; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate