title: Infant Outcomes after Periviable Birth: External Validation of the Neonatal Research Network Estimator with the BEAM Trial.
abstract: Objective The objective of this study was to use data from the 20-center beneficial effect of antenatal magnesium sulfate (BEAM) trial to assess the external validity of the Neonatal Research Network (NRN) estimator, a widely employed web-based counseling tool to estimate the probability of an adverse outcome for periviable infants given intensive care. Study Design The probability of different adverse outcomes predicted from the NRN estimator was compared with observed rates at 18 to 22 months for ventilated, nonanomalous infants born at 23 to 25 weeks and assessed in BEAM as in the NRN. Results were assessed using rigorous validation methods for prediction models. Results Among 289 eligible infants, 26% died, 40% died or had profound neurodevelopmental impairment (PNDI), and 71% died or had NDI. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.78) for death, 0.64 (95% CI, 0.56-0.71) for death or NDI, and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65-0.78) for death or PNDI. Observed and predicted rates were somewhat different for death or NDI but quite similar for death and for death or PNDI in different risk groups. Brier scores for accuracy were favorable (0.17-0.22) for all outcomes. Conclusion Our results provide external validation of the NRN estimator for assessing the probability of adverse outcomes at 18 to 22 months for periviable infants given intensive care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Caroline C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Marrs
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Research and Evidence-Based Medicine, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedroza
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UT Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mendez-Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UT Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Suneet P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Research and Evidence-Based Medicine, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Jon E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tyson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D054582:National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (U.S.); D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D066087:Perinatal Death; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011336:Probability; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult