Neonatal morbidity in singleton late preterm infants compared with full-term infants

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that singleton late preterm infants (34 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks of gestation) compared with full-term infants have a higher incidence of short-term morbidity and stay longer in hospital. Methods: In this retrospective, multicentre study, electronic data of children born at five hospitals in Switzerland were recorded. Short-term outcome of late preterm infants was compared with a control group of full-term infants (39 0/7 to 40 6/7 weeks of gestation). Multiple gestations, pregnancies complicated by foetal malformations, maternal consumption of illicit drugs and infants with incomplete documentation were excluded. The results were corrected for gender imbalance. Results: Data from 530 late preterm and 1686 full-term infants were analysed. Compared with full-term infants, late preterm infants had a significant higher morbidity: respiratory distress (34.7% vs. 4.6%), hyperbilirubinaemia (47.7% vs. 3.4%), hypoglycaemia (14.3% vs. 0.6%), hypothermia (2.5% vs. 0.6%) and duration of hospitalization (mean, 9.9 days vs. 5.2 days). The risk to develop at least one complication was 7.6 (95% CI: 6.2-9.6) times higher among late preterm infants (70.8%) than among fullterm infants (9.3%). Conclusion: Singleton late preterm infants show considerably higher rate of medical complications and prolonged hospital stay compared with matched full-term infants and therefore need more medical and financial resources. To test the hypothesis that singleton late preterm infants (34 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks of gestation) compared with full-term infants have a higher incidence of short-term morbidity and stay longer in hospital. Methods:In this retrospective, multi-centre study electronic data of children born at five hospitals in Switzerland were recorded. Short-term outcome of late preterm infants were compared with a control group of full-term infants (39 0/7 to 40 6/7 weeks of gestation).Multiple gestations, pregnancies complicated by fetal malformations, maternal consumption of illicit drugs and infants with incomplete documentation were excluded. The results were corrected for gender imbalance.Results: Data from 530 late preterm and 1686 full-term infants were analysed. Compared with full-term infants, late preterm infants had a significant higher morbidity: respiratory distress (34.7% versus 4.6%), hyperbilirubinaemia (47.7% versus 3.4%), hypoglycaemia (14.3% versus 0.6%), hypothermia (2.5% versus 0.6%), duration of hospitalization (mean 9.9 days versus 5.2 days). The risk to develop at least one complication was 7.6 (95% CI: 6.2 -9.6) times higher among late preterm infants (70.8%) than full-term infants (9.3%). Conclusion:Singleton late preterm infants show considerably higher rate of medical complications and prolonged hospital stay compared with matched full-term infants and therefore need more medical and financial resources. 3 Key notesLate preterm singletons (34 0/7 to 36 6/7 gestational weeks) show significantly higher rate of medical complications and prolonged hospital ...