title: [THE ISRAEL NATIONAL VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANT DATABASE].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very low birth weight (VLBW ≤ 1,500g] infants represent approximately 1% of all live births in Israel but are responsible for about 45% of all infant deaths and account for 45% of all hospitalization days in the neonatal special and intensive care units (NICU's).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify perinatal and neonatal factors associated with mortality, morbidity and handicap among VLBW infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 1995 data for > 99% of VLBW infants were received from all 27 NICU's in Israel. The data includes maternal obstetric history, infant's status at birth, deaths, major neonatal morbidities and treatments during the infant's hospitalization. The data are analyzed, collated and annual national and departmental reports prepared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The database comprises information on 25,800 VLBW infants born from 1995-2011. Approximately 20% of VLBW infants were conceived by in-vitro fertilization, one-third of the births were multiple births and 60% of multiple births were the result of infertility treatments. Mortality declined significantly from 23.7% in 1995-1997 to 16.8% in 2010-2011. During this period significant decreases in major neonatal morbidities were documented: Late onset sepsis (> 3 days) decreased from 29.9% to 23.2% in 2010-2011; severe retinopathy of prematurity from 7.6% to 3.8% and periventricular leukomalacia from 8.3% to 5.0%. The rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increased from 9.5% in 1995-1997 to 13% in the period 2001-2006, subsequently declining to 10.8% in the last years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since 1995 the Israel national VLBW infant database has provided information at both national and hospital levels, documenting the improving care and outcomes for VLBW infants. The significant decline in VLBW infant mortality has been associated with a parallel decrease in major neonatal morbidities.
authors.forename: Orna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levitzky
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lerner-Geva
authors.forename: Shaul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dollberg
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reichman
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology