title: Short-Term Outcomes and Mortality of Late Preterm Infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Late preterm infants have increased rates of morbidity and mortality compared to term infants. Determining the risk factors in these infants leads to more comprehensive preventive and treatment strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to analyse the morbidity rates such as respiratory system diseases, infections, congenital anomalies, hypoglycemia and hematologic abnormalities and mortality rates in a large group of patients at a referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of late preterm and term infants who were managed at the referral center were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  41752 births were analysed in 3 years. 71.9% of all births were between 37-42 gestational weeks (i.e. term) and 16.1% were between 34-37 weeks (i.e. late preterm). Compared to term infants, late preterm infants had increased rates of short-term problems. The rate of mortality increased with decreased gestational age. The duration of hospitalization was significantly higher in the smallest late preterm infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated the need that late preterm infants who have higher risk for morbidity and mortality, compared to term infants require close monitoring. The rate of mortality and hospitalization increased with decreased gestational age.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cahide
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bulut
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tuğba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gürsoy
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fahri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ovalı
keywords: Late preterm; morbidity; outcome