title: Population based age stratified morbidities of premature infants in Switzerland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide population-based, gestational age (GA) stratified incidence of mortality and morbidities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based prospective observational study of infants born between 23 0/7 and 31 6/7 weeks GA in the years 2000-2004 in all Swiss neonatal intensive care units. Outcomes measured were: mortality, severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), moderate/severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and free of major complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mortality was 19% of 3083 infants. Mortality (95% CI) decreased from 95% (88%, 99%) at 23 weeks to 3% (2%, 5%) at 31 weeks. Short-term survival free of major complications was 66% (65%, 68%) overall and increased from 2%(0%, 9%) to 89% (87%, 92%). Rate of IVH was 8% (7%, 9%), PVL 2% (2%, 3%), NEC 3% (3%, 4%) and BPD 11% (10%, 12%). Males had more IVH than females (9% vs. 6%). Antenatal steroids were associated with lower mortality (11% vs. 18%) and IVH (5% vs. 12%). Odds of free of major complications (OR, 95%CI) were positive for female gender 1.2 (1.0, 1.5), steroids 1.3 (1.1, 1.5), multiple gestation 1.3 (1.0, 1.6), not small for gestational age 2.7 (2.0, 3.5), and each additional week of GA 1.6 (1.5, 1.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mortality and incidence of morbidities known to influence outcome show a weekly decline with increasing gestational age, except for PVL. Gestational age stratified data are a key component for prenatal counselling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Hôpital des Enfants, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, Switzerland. nadia.bajwa@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Nadia M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Bajwa
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berner
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Worley
authors.forename: Riccardo E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Pfister
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D003376:Counseling; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids