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. Aims: 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. Study Design: 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. Conclusion: 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.

Preterm births in Iceland 1997‐2016: Preterm birth rates by gestational age groups and type of preterm birth

“…17 This increase in preterm births at 34-36 weeks' gestation seems to have plateaued in the last few years after an increased focus on late preterm births among clinicians and researchers 18,19 given that the mortality and morbidity are much higher for late preterm than for term infants. 2,19,20 The largest increase in the preterm birth rate in our study was for iatrogenic preterm births, which more than doubled (up to 43% of all preterm births). A similar trend was evident in previous studies from many different parts of the world.…”

Maternal risk factors and early neonatal outcome among late preterm and term neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit in Punjab, India

“…This finding has also been reported by other authors who reported that late preterms constituted 10-15.2% of all deliveries and up to 70% of total preterm neonates. [12][13][14] There were a significantly higher number of unbooked deliveries among the near preterm neonates compared to term with an odd's ratio of 3.02. The maternal risk factors significantly associated with near preterm deliveries were PIH (OR 3.39), eclampsia, APH (OR 2.23), multiple gestation (OR 8.31), PROM (OR 5.16), oligohydramnios (OR 5.11) and abnormal dopplers (4.35).…”

Das späte Frühgeborene – unterschätzte Morbidität

“…Wurde der Cut-off für die Blutzuckerwerte im Messbereich < 50 mg/dl angelegt, traten niedrige Blutzucker mit 25-35 % (vs. 1,5-6 % bei reifen Neugeborenen) deutlich häufiger auf [23,25]. In der Praxis wird in der Regel ein Blutglukoselevel von weniger als 45 mg/dl als Hypoglykämie gewertet, dem entspricht ein Auftreten bei ca.15 % der späten Frühgeborenen [34].…”