title: Babies admitted to NICU/ICU: province of birth and mode of delivery matter.
abstract: Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and intensive care units (ICUs) provide care for newborns in need of specialized medical attention. Across Canada, rates of NICU/ICU admission vary. Due to the high cost of monitoring and interventions these admissions cost more than general newborn stays - whether the newborn is in a specialized NICU or in an ICU in those facilities without specialized units for newborns. This study explores the variation in NICU/ICU admissions and the characteristics of mothers and newborns associated with an increased likelihood of NICU/ICU admission. We focus further on the association between NICU/ICU admission and Caesarean section (C-section). After excluding multiple births, preterm births, small for gestational age births and those delivered by women with select complications, we find an increased risk for NICU/ICU admission for babies born by C-section as their only indication. NICU/ICU admission following C-section alone may not represent the most desirable pathway of care for these newborns.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Shafagh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fallah
authors.forename: Xi-Kuan
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurji
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hader
authors.forename: Kira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leeb
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009099:Multiple Birth Offspring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology