ductus arteriosum, intraventricular haemorrhage and retinopathy of prematurity (grade 3 or 4).From this information, the length of time each baby spent in the hospital was calculated. Neonates were separated into groups based on gestational age. The median length of stay was found for each group. The frequency of the six health conditions was determined by counting how many babies, per group, had been diagnosed on their discharge letter. Percentages of each age group who were diagnosed with each condition were then calculated and displayed on a bar graph.
ResultsThe median length of stay estimated by week of gestational age and average age at discharge was analysed (table 1) and this showed that babies born at 23 weeks, who survived to discharge, had a median length of stay of 121 days and their average gestational age at discharge was 40+2. As week of gestational age increased the time to discharge decreased consistently. Indeed, babies born at 33 weeks having a median length of stay of only 17 days and an average age of discharge of 35+3. The overall trend regarding the percentage of neonates diagnosed with more than one health condition increased as the gestational age decreased (figure 1).
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