title: Practice Variance, Prevalence, and Economic Burden of Premature Infants Diagnosed With GERD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the practice variance, prevalence, and economic burden of clinically diagnosed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Applying a retrospective cohort study design, we analyzed data from 18 567 preterm infants of 22 to 36 weeks' gestation and >400 g birth weight from the NICUs of 33 freestanding children's hospitals in the United States. GERD prevalence, comorbidities, and demographic factors were examined for their association with average length of stay (LOS) and hospitalization cost.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 10.3% of infants received a diagnosis of GERD (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.8-10.7). There was a 13-fold variation in GERD rates across hospitals (P < .001). GERD diagnosis was significantly (P < .05) associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotizing enterocolitis, as well as congenital anomalies and decreased birth weight. GERD diagnosis was associated with $70 489 (95% CI: 62 184-78 794) additional costs per discharge and 29.9 additional days in LOS (95% CI: 27.3-32.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One in 10 of these premature NICU infants were diagnosed with GERD, which is associated with substantially increased LOS and elevated costs. Better diagnostic and management strategies are needed to evaluate reflux-type symptoms in this vulnerable NICU population.
authors.affiliation: Sections of Neonatology and.
authors.forename: Sudarshan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Jadcherla
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Slaughter
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stenger
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klebanoff
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gardner
keywords: GERD; economic burden; length of stay; neonate