Hospital admissions in the first year of life in very preterm infants

OBJECTIVE: To analyse hospital readmissions to 1 year in infants < 33 weeks' gestation. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort of very preterm infants born in Western Australia. METHODS: Parental social class, history of asthma, race, gestational age, birthweight, sex, severity of respiratory disease and oxygen requirement at 28 days chronic lung disease (CLD), 36 weeks and term, maternal smoking, cohabitation with siblings, breast-feeding duration and hospital readmissions were recorded prospectively. RESULTS: Data were available for 538 of 560 (96%) infants discharged. Eight died in the first year. Two hundred and twenty-five infants (42%) had 443 readmissions, of which 370 were medical and 73 surgical. Risk factors for medical readmission were Aboriginal race, male sex and CLD. Breast-feeding was protective. Risk factors for surgical admission were male sex, lower gestation, severe hyaline membrane disease, severe CLD and birthweight < 10th centile. CONCLUSIONS: Readmission is common after very preterm birth. Risk factors for medical and surgical admission differ with CLD being the only perinatal factor associated with both medical and surgical admission.     

Risk factors for respiratory morbidity in infancy after very premature birth

OBJECTIVES: To determine the occurrence of respiratory morbidity during infancy after very premature birth and to identify risk factors. DESIGN: Prospective follow up study. SETTING: The United Kingdom oscillation study. PATIENTS: 492 infants, all born before 29 weeks gestation. INTERVENTIONS: Structured questionnaires were completed by local paediatricians when the infants were seen in outpatients at 6 and 12 months of age corrected for prematurity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cough, wheeze, and treatment requirements and the composite measure of respiratory morbidity (cough, frequent cough, cough without infection, wheeze, frequent wheeze, wheeze without infection, and use of chest medicine) and their relation to 13 possible explanatory variables. RESULTS: At 6 and 12 months of corrected age, 27% of the infants coughed and 6% had frequent (more than once a week) cough, and 20% and 3% respectively had wheeze or frequent wheeze. At 6 and 12 months, 14% of infants had taken bronchodilators and 8% inhaled steroids. After adjustment for multiple outcome testing, four factors were associated with increased respiratory morbidity: male sex, oxygen dependency at 36 weeks postmenstrual age, having older siblings aged less than 5 years, and living in rented accommodation. CONCLUSIONS: Male infants are particularly vulnerable to respiratory morbidity in infancy after very premature birth. It is important to identify a safe and effective strategy to prevent chronic oxygen dependency.     

Respiratory symptoms in children of low birth weight.

We recorded the respiratory history by questionnaire in a 7 year old cohort of children whose birth weight was under 2000 g and an unselected reference group of local schoolchildren of the same age. Complete data were obtained in 121 low birthweight children (90% of those studied): 62 who had no neonatal respiratory illness, 25 who had oxygen treatment only, and 34 who received mechanical ventilation (of whom 10 had bronchopulmonary dysplasia). The low birthweight children were no more likely to wheeze than the reference group, but frequent and troublesome cough was significantly more common, especially among children of very low birth weight (under 1500 g) who had received neonatal respiratory treatment. Neonatal mechanical ventilation was not associated with increased symptoms when compared with neonatal oxygen treatment alone. The prevalence of cough at the age of 7 was independently associated with the level of neonatal intensive care as defined by oxygen score. Although there was no excess of wheeze in the cohort compared with the reference group, there was a weak correlation between wheeze and the neonatal oxygen score as well as with maternal smoking. Loss of schooling due to respiratory symptoms in the nine months before this study was no greater in children of low birth weight than in the reference group.     

Diminished lung function, RSV infection, and respiratory morbidity in prematurely born infants.

BACKGROUND: Diminished lung function appears to be a risk factor for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection/bronchiolitis in term born infants. AIMS: To determine if diminished lung function prior to neonatal unit discharge was associated with subsequent symptomatic RSV lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and respiratory morbidity in prematurely born infants. METHODS: Of 39 infants in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (median gestational age 28 weeks, range 23-31), 20 had bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Lung function (compliance and resistance of the respiratory system (C(rs) and R(rs)) and functional residual capacity (FRC)) was measured on the neonatal unit at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Following neonatal unit discharge, nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained on every occasion, at home or in hospital, an infant had an LRTI. RSV was identified by immunofluorescence and/or culture. RESULTS: The 15 infants who suffered a symptomatic RSV LRTI had a higher mean R(rs) and suffered more wheeze at follow up than the rest of the cohort. Regression analysis showed that a high R(rs) was significantly associated with a symptomatic RSV LRTI; significant factors for cough were a high R(rs) and a symptomatic RSV LRTI, and for wheeze were a high R(rs). CONCLUSION: Prematurely born infants, who had a symptomatic RSV LRTI and/or respiratory morbidity at follow up, had worse lung function prior to neonatal unit discharge.     

Breastfeeding and the risk of wheeze and asthma in Japanese infants: The Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study

Epidemiological evidence for an effect of breastfeeding on asthma continues to be inconclusive. The present prospective study examined the relationship between breastfeeding and the risk of wheeze and asthma in Japanese infants. A birth cohort of 763 infants was followed. The first survey during pregnancy and the second survey between 2 and 9 months postpartum collected information on potential confounding factors. Data on breastfeeding, wheeze, and asthma were obtained from questionnaires in the third survey from 16 to 24 months postpartum. Adjustment was made for maternal age, maternal and paternal history of asthma, atopic eczema, and allergic rhinitis, indoor domestic pets (cats, dogs, birds, or hamsters), family income, maternal and paternal education, maternal smoking during pregnancy, baby's sex, baby's older siblings, household smoking in the same room as the infant, and time of delivery before the third survey. By the third survey, the cumulative incidence of wheeze and asthma was 22.1% and 4.3%, respectively. Neither exclusive breastfeeding for 4 months or more nor partial breastfeeding for 6 months or more were materially related to the risk of wheeze. No measurable association was observed between exclusive breastfeeding for 4 months or more and the risk of asthma. Partial breastfeeding for 6 months or more was inversely related to the risk of asthma although the adjusted odds ratio (OR) was not statistically significant. When infants were stratified according to whether there was a negative or positive allergic history in at least 1 parent, a nearly 40% and 60% decrease, respectively, in the ORs were found for exclusive and partial breastfeeding only in infants without a parental allergic history, although the ORs were not statistically significant. The present prospective study showed no statistically significant relationship between breastfeeding duration and the risk of wheeze or asthma in Japanese infants.     

Incidence and risk factors of lower respiratory tract illnesses during infancy in a Mediterranean birth cohort

Abstract Aim: To investigate the incidence rate, viral respiratory agents and determinants of lower respiratory tract illnesses (LRTIs) in infants younger than 1 year. Methods: A total of 487 infants were recruited at birth for the Asthma Multicenter Infant Cohort Study in Barcelona (Spain). Cases of LRTIs were ascertained through an active register including a home visit and viral test in nasal lavage specimens during the first year of life. Cotinine in cord blood, household aeroallergens, indoor NO(2) and maternal and neonatal IgE were measured. Other maternal and infants' characteristics were obtained from structured questionnaires. Results: The incidence rate of at least one LRTI was 38.7 infants per 100 persons-years. The most frequently isolated viral agent was respiratory syncytial virus (44.7%). The risk of LRTIs was higher in infants with a maternal history of asthma and in those with siblings (OR = 2.4; 95% CI: 0.98-6.08 and OR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.04-3.21, respectively). The risk of LRTIs was lower in infants who were breast fed for more than 12 weeks (OR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.26-0.86) and in those from a low socioeconomic class (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.06-0.42). Conclusion: Viral LRTIs are frequent in infants younger than 1 year of age and there is an inter-relationship between maternal asthma, siblings, breast feeding and socioeconomic status.     

Effect of palivizumab prophylaxis in decreasing respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations in premature infants

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of hospitalization in preterm infants and infants with chronic lung disease (CLD). Palivizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, was approved in Europe in 1999 as prophylaxis against severe RSV-related respiratory illness. No multiple season data have been published on palivizumab effectiveness in European populations. Data collected during 4 years in Spain compared RSV hospitalization rates and risk factors in a cohort of palivizumab-prophylaxed and nonprophylaxed preterm infants. METHODS: The first cohort was derived from 2 previous studies and included 1583 infants followed during 2 RSV seasons (1998 to 1999, 1999 to 2000) before palivizumab initiation in Spain. The second cohort included 1919 infants who received palivizumab prophylaxis for 2 subsequent respiratory seasons (2000 to 2001, 2001 to 2002). Both cohorts were preterm (< or =32 weeks gestational age) and < or =6 months old at onset of RSV season. RESULTS: The RSV hospitalization rate in the palivizumab-prophylaxed cohort was 3.95, and it was 13.25% in nonprophylaxed infants This 70% overall difference in RSV hospitalization was observed despite the palivizumab-prophylaxed group's lower gestational ages, more severe neonatal intensive care unit respiratory courses and higher incidence of CLD. Significant risk factors for RSV hospitalization in both cohorts included: lower gestational age; chronologic age <3 months at RSV season onset; school age siblings; and lower parental education. Nonprophylaxed children had a higher risk for RSV-related hospitalization than did prophylaxed patients (odds ratio, 3.86; 95% confidence interval, 2.83 to 5.25). CONCLUSION: Data from this study support the effectiveness of palivizumab in significantly modifying RSV-related hospitalizations in high risk preterm infants, with and without CLD, during two respiratory seasons.     

极早产儿初始无创持续气道正压呼吸支持失败的多中心队列研究

目的分析出生胎龄<32周的极早产儿初始无创持续气道正压(CPAP)呼吸支持失败的危险因素及其不良结局。方法采取多中心前瞻性观察性队列研究,收集山东新生儿协作网中30家医院新生儿重症监护病房2019年出生的出生胎龄 25~31⁺⁶周极早产儿的围生期资料、临床救治情况和结局。根据生后初始无创CPAP的结局分为失败组和成功组。采用χ²检验或Fisher确切概率法和非参数检验比较两组间危险因素的差异,并对差异有统计学意义的危险因素进一步进行二元Logistic回归分析。结果共纳入极早产儿 1 040例,其中男577例(55.5%),女463例(44.5%);出生胎龄25~28+6周195例(18.8%),29~31⁺⁶周845例(81.2%);出生体重<1 000 g 81例(7.8%),出生体重≥1 000 g 959例(92.2%)。失败组138例(13.3%),成功组902例(86.7%)。出生胎龄 25~28⁺⁶周、29~31⁺⁶周的初始无创CPAP失败率分别为24.6% (48/195)、10.7% (90/845)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,较小的出生胎龄、母亲妊娠期高血压疾病、生后发生Ⅲ~Ⅳ级呼吸窘迫综合征(RDS)、需用肺表面活性物质(PS)≥2次、吸入氧浓度>0.30是初始无创CPAP失败的独立危险因素(OR=0.718、1.847、4.003、6.712、1.948,95%CI:0.590~0.873、1.130~3.018、2.435~6.579、3.160~14.259、1.189~3.192,均P<0.05);失败组的病死率和新生儿肺出血、中重度支气管肺发育不良、重度脑室内出血不良结局的发生率均明显高于成功组(OR=4.436、26.393、1.998、4.545,95%CI:2.106~9.344、9.690~71.885、1.031~3.875、1.615~12.795,均P<0.05)。结论出生胎龄<32周的极早产儿初始无创CPAP失败主要不良结局的发生率较高;出生胎龄较小、母亲存在妊娠期高血压疾病,生后发生Ⅲ~Ⅳ级RDS、需用PS≥2次以及吸入氧浓度>0.30的是初始无创CPAP失败的危险因素。     

Wheeze associated with prenatal tobacco smoke exposure: a prospective, longitudinal study. ALSPAC Study Team.

AIMS: To determine whether maternal smoking during pregnancy is a risk factor for reported wheeze in early childhood that is independent of postnatal environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and other known risk factors. METHODS: A total of 8561 mothers and infants completed questions about smoking during pregnancy, ETS exposure, and the mother's recall of wheeze during early childhood. RESULTS: A total of 1869 (21.8%) children had reported wheeze between 18 and 30 months of age, and 3496 (40.8%) had reported wheeze in one or more of the three study periods (birth to 6 months, 6-18 months, 18-30 months). The risk of wheeze between 18 and 30 months of age was higher if the mother smoked during pregnancy. This relation did not show a dose-response effect and became less obvious after adjustment for the effects of other factors. Average daily duration of ETS exposure reported at 6 months of age showed a dose-response effect and conferred a similar risk of reported wheeze. Factors associated with early childhood wheeze had the following adjusted odds ratios: maternal history of asthma 2.03 (1.74 to 2. 37); preterm delivery 1.66 (1.30 to 2.13); male sex 1.42 (1.28 to 1. 59); rented accommodation 1.29 (1.11 to 1.51); and each additional child in household 1.13 (1.04 to 1.24). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal smoking during pregnancy may be a risk factor for reported wheeze during early childhood that is independent of postnatal ETS exposure. For wheeze between 18 and 30 months of age, light smoking during the third trimester of pregnancy appears to confer the same risk as heavier smoking.     

Changes in care and short-term outcome for very preterm infants in Estonia

Aim: To identify recent changes in short‐term outcome and care for very preterm infants in Estonia. Methods: Comparison of two population‐based cohorts of very preterm infants born alive at 22–31 gestational weeks. In 2007–2008, data were recorded prospectively in a neonatal register. For the cohort born in 2002–2003, the same variables were extracted retrospectively from the hospital records. Infants were followed up to discharge or death. Results: The cohort of 2007−2008 contained a higher proportion of infants born by caesarean section and of infants who received antenatal corticosteroids, maternal antibiotics, or surfactant therapy than the earlier cohort. A higher proportion of infants was admitted for care in 2007–2008 (98% vs. 94%; p = 0.013). During the study period, survival until discharge increased (85% vs. 78%; p = 0.041), although the length of hospital stay was unchanged. The use of mechanical ventilation, inotropes, and postnatal antibiotics decreased. Neonatal morbidity remained unchanged, except for a decrease in severe periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage. Conclusion: The outcome for very preterm infants in Estonia has improved since 2002. With proactive perinatal management and less invasive neonatal care, survival until discharge increased without concomitant increases in neonatal morbidity and the length of hospital stay.     

Comparison of neonatal outcome for inborn and outborn very low-birthweight preterm infants

Background:  The aim of the present study was to compare the neonatal outcome of very low-birthweight (VLBW) preterm infants with regard to inborn and outborn status in a medical center of Southern Taiwan, where short-distance neonatal transport is the rule and maternal transport was not well established.
Methods:  This retrospective study included outborn VLBW preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung after neonatal transport during the period from 1999 through 2003. An equal number of inborn preterm infants matched for gender and birthweight were included as controls. Infants with lethal congenital anomalies or who died in the delivery room were excluded. Data were collected from reviewing medical charts.
Results:  A total of 34 inborn VLBW infants and 34 outborn VLBW infants with neonatal transport were included. Chronic lung disease (CLD) was significantly more frequent in the outborn group according to McNemar test ( P  = 0.0124) and logistic regression. Logistic regression also showed that outborn status ( P  = 0.0173) and birthweight ( P  = 0.0024) were the two most important risk factors for development of CLD.
Conclusion:  Well-trained short distance neonatal transport is useful and valuable for VLBW infants with gestation age of 27–34 weeks in Southern Taiwan. The respiratory outcome, however, was poor in the outborn group in terms of incidence of CLD. To improve the respiratory outcome, further modification of respiratory care during transportation or antenatal maternal transport is crucial.     

Lung function in children of low birth weight.

Lung function was recorded in a cohort of 130 age specific children of low birth weight (under 2000 g) and a reference population of 120 unselected local schoolchildren at 7 years of age. Children of the cohort were similar in height and forced vital capacity to the reference group, but had significantly reduced forced expiratory volume in 0.75 second and expiratory flow indices. Although neonatal respiratory illness was associated with reduced airway function, we were unable to confirm that this was a consequence of oxygen treatment or mechanical ventilation. Low birth weight, however, was closely associated with poor airway function independent of neonatal respiratory illness. Other factors of importance included the male gender and maternal smoking. The reduction in airway function observed in the low birthweight children was associated with cough but not wheeze. The disparity between the relatively well preserved vital capacity and reduced airway function suggests that very low birth weight, and hence prematurity, has its greatest effect on the subsequent growth of airway function. The absence of an association between neonatal oxygen score or mechanical ventilation and childhood lung function suggests that the long term effect of neonatal respiratory treatment is small compared with that of birth weight, maternal smoking, and male sex.     

Health service utilisation of a regional cohort of very preterm infants over the first 2 years of life

AIM: Very preterm infants represent major consumers of health services following neonatal discharge. We examined the health service utilisation of a regional cohort of very preterm infants over the first 2 years of life, including the association with neurodevelopmental outcome. METHODS: A regionally based 2-year cohort of 100 very preterm infants along with a comparison sample of 104 full term control infants matched for sex, time and place of birth were recruited. Perinatal and social background factors that predispose very preterm infants to increased risk of subsequent general practitioner (GP) and hospital service use were identified. At 2 years, all children underwent a neurodevelopmental assessment, Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-II). Details of children's medical contacts obtained by parent interview were cross-checked against GP and hospital records/databases. RESULTS: Very preterm infants had a similar number of GP visits to term infants but more outpatient hospital visits. Fifty-three (55%) very preterm infants were admitted to hospital on 131 occasions compared with 26 (26%) term infants on 37 occasions (p<0.001). The main reason for hospitalisation in the preterm cohort was respiratory disorder. The frequency of hospital admissions was significantly related to birthweight (P=0.01), gestational age (P<0.001) and the number of people living in the family household (P=0.02). No associations were found between hospital admission and neurodevelopment at 2 years. CONCLUSION: Very preterm infants had higher rates of hospital admissions and visits than term infants unrelated to neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of age. These findings highlight that very preterm birth is associated with ongoing health morbidity.     

Underlying maternal and pregnancy‐related conditions account for a substantial proportion of neonatal morbidity in late preterm infants

Aim

We studied the impact of maternal and pregnancy‐related conditions and the effect of gestational age itself, on the health of infants born late preterm.

Methods

Singletons born in gestational weeks 34 + 0 to 41 + 6 in 1995–2013 in the southern region of Sweden were identified from a perinatal register. We found 14 030 infants born late preterm and 294 814 born at term. A hierarchical system was developed to examine the impact of pregnancy complications. The outcomes studied were as follows: neonatal death, central nervous system (CNS) or respiratory disease, infection, neonatal admission and respiratory support. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were obtained using logistic regression analyses.

Results

Late preterm infants were at increased risk for all outcomes compared to term infants, with adjusted ORs from 13.1 (95% CI: 12.7–13.6) for neonatal admission to 2.3 (95% CI: 1.8–2.9) for infections. Late preterm birth after preterm prelabour rupture of membranes was associated with an overall lower risk compared to late preterm births due to other causes. Exposure to antepartum haemorrhage or maternal diabetes increased the risk for CNS and respiratory morbidity.

Conclusion

Morbidity decreased in late preterm infants with increasing gestational age. Underlying conditions accounted for a substantial part of the morbidity.     

Cross-sectional study of allergic disorders in relation to familial factors in Japanese adolescents

AIM: The roles of heredity and the household environment in the development of allergic disorders are not clearly established. This study examined the relationship between selected familial factors and the prevalence of symptoms of wheeze, atopic eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in Japanese adolescents. METHODS: Study subjects were 5539 students aged 12-15 y in Suita City. A questionnaire ascertained gender, grade, number of older siblings, maternal age at childbirth, smoking in the household, domestic pets and parental history of allergy, as well as signs and symptoms of allergy in the previous 12 mo. The latter were based on diagnostic criteria from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. RESULTS: Male gender was independently associated with an increased prevalence of wheeze and a decreased prevalence of atopic eczema. The prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis, but not wheeze or atopic dermatitis, significantly increased with advancing grade. A significant inverse dose-response relationship between the number of older siblings and the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis, but not wheeze or atopic dermatitis, was observed. Maternal age at childbirth, smoking in the household and domestic pets were not apparently related to any of the allergic disorders. A positive maternal allergic history was more evidently associated with an increased prevalence of wheeze and rhinoconjunctivitis, but not atopic eczema, than a positive paternal allergic history. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the factors associated with allergic disorders in Japan are largely the same as those already identified in Western populations.     

Perinatal and socioeconomic determinants of breastfeeding duration in very preterm infants

AIM: To describe the impact of prematurity, size at birth, neonatal disorders and the families' socioeconomic status (SES) on breastfeeding duration in mothers of very preterm infants. METHODS: Prospective population-based cohort study. Data on breastfeeding, registered in databases in two Swedish counties in 1993-2001, were matched with data from two national registries: the Medical Birth Registry and Statistics Sweden. Mothers of 225 very preterm singleton infants were identified and included. RESULTS: Seventy-nine percent of the mothers breastfed at 2 months, 62% at 4 months, 45% at 6 months, 22% at 9 months and 12% at 12 months. Prematurity, size at birth and neonatal disorders did not show an effect on breastfeeding duration. Being adversely exposed to any of the SES factors (maternal education, unemployment benefit, social welfare and equivalent disposable income in the household) was significantly associated with earlier weaning up to 6 months of infants' postnatal age. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows new and noteworthy results concerning breastfeeding duration in mothers of very preterm infants, which was not influenced by degree of prematurity, size at birth or neonatal disorders but was affected by SES. This highlights the need for improved support of socioeconomically disadvantaged mothers, during and after the hospital stay.     

Wheeze associated with prenatal tobacco smoke exposure: a prospective, longitudinal study. ALSPAC Study Team

AIMS—To determine whether maternal smoking during pregnancy is a risk factor for reported wheeze in early childhood that is independent of postnatal environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and other known risk factors.METHODS—A total of 8561 mothers and infants completed questions about smoking during pregnancy, ETS exposure, and the mother''s recall of wheeze during early childhood.RESULTS—A total of 1869 (21.8%) children had reported wheeze between 18 and 30 months of age, and 3496 (40.8%) had reported wheeze in one or more of the three study periods (birth to 6 months, 6-18 months, 18-30 months). The risk of wheeze between 18 and 30 months of age was higher if the mother smoked during pregnancy. This relation did not show a dose-response effect and became less obvious after adjustment for the effects of other factors. Average daily duration of ETS exposure reported at 6 months of age showed a dose-response effect and conferred a similar risk of reported wheeze. Factors associated with early childhood wheeze had the following adjusted odds ratios: maternal history of asthma 2.03(1.74 to 2.37); preterm delivery 1.66 (1.30 to 2.13); male sex 1.42 (1.28 to 1.59); rented accommodation 1.29 (1.11 to 1.51); and each additional child in household 1.13 (1.04 to 1.24).CONCLUSIONS—Maternal smoking during pregnancy may be a risk factor for reported wheeze during early childhood that is independent of postnatal ETS exposure. For wheeze between 18 and 30 months of age, light smoking during the third trimester of pregnancy appears to confer the same risk as heavier smoking.     

Delivery before 32 weeks of gestation for maternal pre-eclampsia: neonatal outcome and 2-year developmental outcome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In the literature, there are conflicting data on the neonatal outcome in preterm infants who were delivered for maternal pre-eclampsia. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of maternal pre-eclampsia on neonatal morbidity and 2-year developmental outcome in a population of preterm infants delivered before 32 weeks of gestation. METHODS: The hospital records of all 89 surviving VLBW infants with GA below 32 weeks born from January 1997 to December 1999 were reviewed retrospectively. Data on respiratory outcome, sepsis and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) were compiled and analyzed for their association to maternal pre-eclampsia. Seventy-eight infants were assessed employing the Bayley Scales of Infant Development for developmental outcome at 2 years of corrected age. RESULTS: There was no difference in neonatal morbidity between groups. More infants born to pre-eclamptic mothers had lower MDI scores at 24 months of age (P=0.04) as compared to infants without maternal pre-eclampsia. After multiple logistic regression analysis, pre-eclampsia (P=0.007, OR=10.8) remained a significant risk factor of mildly delayed MDI at 24 months of age. CONCLUSION: Delivery before 32 weeks because of pre-eclampsia was associated with an increased risk of poor cognitive outcome. There was no significant difference in the postnatal course in comparison with infants born after pregnancies not complicated by pre-eclampsia.     

The clinical and health economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus disease among children under 2 years of age in a defined geographical area

Aims: To describe the clinical and health economic impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in children under 2 years of age. Methods: Hospitalised children less than 2 years of age with a respiratory illness were studied over three consecutive RSV seasons (1996–99). Results: The rates (per 1000 infants under 1 year of age) of hospitalisations from bronchiolitis and RSV illness were 30.8 and 24.4 respectively. The rates of death, intensive care admission, and need for ventilatory assistance during RSV related hospitalisation were 0.2%, 2.7%, and 1.5% respectively. From a cohort of 841 preterm infants, 6.3% had an RSV related hospitalisation during the study period, with the rate rising to 9.2% among those who were either born before 36 weeks gestation and were under 6 months of age at the onset of the RSV seasons, or were less than 2 years of age with chronic lung disease needing home oxygen therapy. Eight of 25 children on home oxygen therapy had RSV related rehospitalisation. Need for assisted ventilation during the neonatal period and discharge home on oxygen therapy were significantly associated with the risk of subsequent RSV related hospitalisation in preterm infants less than 6 months of age. The direct health authority cost of all RSV hospitalisations was £542 203, while the currently recommended immunoprophylaxis for the high risk infants would have cost £652 960. Conclusions: Preterm infants receiving assisted ventilation and those on home oxygen therapy are particularly at risk of RSV related hospitalisation. Serious adverse outcomes are however uncommon even among these high risk infants.     

The clinical and health economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus disease among children under 2 years of age in a defined geographical area.

AIMS: To describe the clinical and health economic impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in children under 2 years of age. METHODS: Hospitalised children less than 2 years of age with a respiratory illness were studied over three consecutive RSV seasons (1996-99). RESULTS: The rates (per 1000 infants under 1 year of age) of hospitalisations from bronchiolitis and RSV illness were 30.8 and 24.4 respectively. The rates of death, intensive care admission, and need for ventilatory assistance during RSV related hospitalisation were 0.2%, 2.7%, and 1.5% respectively. From a cohort of 841 preterm infants, 6.3% had an RSV related hospitalisation during the study period, with the rate rising to 9.2% among those who were either born before 36 weeks gestation and were under 6 months of age at the onset of the RSV seasons, or were less than 2 years of age with chronic lung disease needing home oxygen therapy. Eight of 25 children on home oxygen therapy had RSV related rehospitalisation. Need for assisted ventilation during the neonatal period and discharge home on oxygen therapy were significantly associated with the risk of subsequent RSV related hospitalisation in preterm infants less than 6 months of age. The direct health authority cost of all RSV hospitalisations was pound 542 203, while the currently recommended immunoprophylaxis for the high risk infants would have cost pound 652 960. CONCLUSIONS: Preterm infants receiving assisted ventilation and those on home oxygen therapy are particularly at risk of RSV related hospitalisation. Serious adverse outcomes are however uncommon even among these high risk infants.