• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Mortality and morbidity of very preterm infants in Romania: How are we doing?
  • Contributor: Suciu, Laura Mihaela; Puscasiu, Lucian; Szabo, Bela; Cucerea, Manuela; Ognean, Maria Livia; Oprea, Ioan; Bell, Edward F.
  • Published: Wiley, 2014
  • Published in: Pediatrics International, 56 (2014) 2, Seite 200-206
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1111/ped.12219
  • ISSN: 1328-8067; 1442-200X
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: AbstractBackgroundBirth before 28 weeks of gestation is associated with high mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to examine characteristics associated with in‐hospital mortality and morbidity among extremely low‐birthweight neonates admitted to three tertiary care centers in Romania.MethodsThe study was conducted in three Romanian hospitals with level‐III neonatal intensive care units. We studied singleton live births at the established Romanian limit of viability (i.e., 25–28 weeks' gestational age) born between January 2007 and December 2010 (n = 227). Infants born in non‐level‐III facilities transferred to these three centers were included in our study (n = 39). Descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses were used to describe the population and examine outcomes and risk factors.ResultsDuring the study period, 62 neonates (27.3%) were delivered at 25 weeks, 56 (24.7%) were delivered at 26 weeks, 56 (24.7%) at 27 weeks, and 53 (23.3%) at 28 weeks. Overall in‐hospital mortality was 65% (from 85% at 25 weeks to 35% at 28 weeks). The rates for major morbidities were necrotizing enterocolitis 8.8%, bronchopulmonary dysplasia 12.5%, and retinopathy of prematurity (stage higher than 2) 26.2%.ConclusionsDuring 2007–2010, in‐hospital survival of infants admitted to three neonatal intensive care units in Romania was 35% and ranged from 14% at 25 weeks to 64% at 28 weeks.