title: Predicting the Need for Home Oxygen Therapy in Preterm Infants Born Before 28 Weeks' Gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discover a predictor, that could be used at least 3 to 4 weeks' before discharge, to identify infants who would need home oxygen therapy. We hypothesized that infants requiring a high level of respiratory support at 34 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA) would require home oxygen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single center retrospective study of 143 infants less than 28 weeks' gestation. We determined when infants weaned from each level of respiratory support (mechanical ventilation, nasal continuous airway pressure [nCPAP] or biphasic positive pressure, nasal cannula flow ≥ 2 L/min, nasal cannula flow < 2 L/min or no respiratory support). Our primary outcome was need for home oxygen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants who required nCPAP at 34 weeks' PMA had a 100% positive predictive value for home oxygen therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher levels of respiratory support at 34 weeks' PMA can predict the need for home oxygen and is useful in preparing patients and families for discharge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Melissa C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Liebowitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Ronald I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Clyman
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies