title: Multicenter neonatal databases: Trends in research uses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the US, approximately 12.7% of all live births are preterm, 8.2% of live births were low birth weight (LBW), and 1.5% are very low birth weight (VLBW). Although technological advances have improved mortality rates among preterm and LBW infants, improving overall rates of prematurity and LBW remains a national priority. Monitoring short- and long-term outcomes is critical for advancing medical treatment and minimizing morbidities associated with prematurity or LBW; however, studying these infants can be challenging. Several large, multi-center neonatal databases have been developed to improve research and quality improvement of treatments for and outcomes of premature and LBW infants. The purpose of this systematic review was to describe three multi-center neonatal databases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a literature search using PubMed and Google Scholar over the period 1990 to August 2014. Studies were included in our review if one of the databases was used as a primary source of data or comparison. Included studies were categorized by year of publication; study design employed, and research focus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 343 studies published between 1991 and 2014 were included. Studies of premature and LBW infants using these databases have increased over time, and provide evidence for both neonatology and community-based pediatric practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research into treatment and outcomes of premature and LBW infants is expanding, partially due to the availability of large, multicenter databases. The consistency of clinical conditions and neonatal outcomes studied since 1990 demonstrates that there are dedicated research agendas and resources that allow for long-term, and potentially replicable, studies within this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management and Systems Science, School of Public Health & Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA.
authors.forename: Liza M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Creel
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B Downs Blvd, MDC 56, Tampa, FL, 33616, USA. seangregory@health.usf.edu.|Department of Pediatrics, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. seangregory@health.usf.edu.|Department of Psychiatry, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. seangregory@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3157-0316
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, USA.|Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McNeal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, USA.
authors.forename: Madhava R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Beeram
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Krauss
mesh_terms: D003628:Database Management Systems; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn
keywords: NICU databases; NICU outcomes; Pediatrics outcomes; Prematurity