Use of the CRIB (clinical risk index for babies) score in prediction of neonatal mortality and morbidity.

A prospective study of the outcome of care of a regional cohort of very low birthweight (< 1500 g) and very preterm (< 32 weeks) infants was carried out. Its aims were to assess the ability of the CRIB (clinical risk index for babies) score, rather than gestational age or birthweight, to predict mortality before hospital discharge, neurological morbidity, and length of stay, and to access CRIB score as an indicator of neonatal intensive care performance. 676 live births fulfilled the criteria and complete data were available for 643 (95%). Compared with gestation and birthweight, CRIB was better for the prediction of mortality, was as good for the prediction of morbidity, and was not as good for the prediction of length of stay. CRIB adjusted mortality did not demonstrate better performance in units providing the highest level of care. Either the CRIB score was not sensitive to performance or the level 3 hospitals in this study were performing badly. On the basis of this analysis purchasers and providers of neonatal intensive care cannot yet rely on the CRIB score as a performance indicator.     

CRIB (clinical risk index for babies) in relation to nosocomial bacteraemia in very low birthweight or preterm infants.

Positive blood cultures in very low birthweight or preterm infants usually reflect bacteraemia, septicaemia, or failure of asepsis during sampling and lead to increased costs and length of stay. Rates of nosocomial, or hospital acquired, bacteraemia may therefore be important indicators of neonatal unit performance, if comparisons are adjusted for differences in initial risk. In a preliminary study the risk of nosocomial bacteraemia was related to initial clinical risk and illness severity measured by the clinical risk index for babies (CRIB). Nosocomial bacteraemia was defined as clinically suspected infection with culture of bacteria in blood more than 48 hours after birth. One or more episodes of nosocomial bacteraemia were identified retrospectively in 36 of 143 (25%) infants in a regional neonatal unit between 1992 and 1994. Biologically plausible models were developed using regression analysis techniques. After correcting for period at risk, nosocomial bacteraemia was independently associated with gestation at birth and CRIB. Death was independently associated with CRIB, but not with nosocomial bacteraemia. CRIB may contribute, with other explanatory variables, to more comprehensive predictive models of death and nosocomial infection. These may facilitate future risk adjusted comparative studies between groups of neonatal units.     

Variation in mortality and intraventricular haemorrhage in occupants of Pacific Rim nurseries

OBJECTIVE: A network of neonatal intensive care units in Pacific Rim countries was formed to compare infant risk factors, clinical practices, and outcomes for very low birthweight infants. METHODOLOGY: A multicentre, prospective study compared outcomes for infants born smaller than 1501 g or at less than 31 weeks gestation. RESULTS: Gestational age-specific survival and incidence of intracranial haemorrhage varied for infants born in these nurseries. We found differences in infant risk factors among the nurseries. There were also significant differences in the use of antenatal steroids, but similar rates for Caesarean section and surfactant treatment. The factor most predictive of neonatal death and severe intracranial abnormality was an elevated Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) score. Antenatal steroid treatment (>24 h prior to delivery) was associated with improved survival and decreased incidence of severe intracranial abnormalities. Antenatal steroid treatment for less than 24 h prior to delivery was not associated with improved survival. Caesarean delivery was associated with improved survival, but showed no benefit regarding the incidence of severe intracranial abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: Our Pacific Rim nursery network found differences in neonatal outcomes that correlated best with measures of neonatal risk at birth, antenatal steroid treatment, and Caesarean delivery. These data emphasize the importance of obstetric care to improve postnatal outcomes in premature infants, and highlight the usefulness of CRIB scores in these patients.     

需要机械通气的极低出生体重儿院内病死率及病死风险因素的前瞻性研究

目的：描述危重极低出生体重儿（VLBWI）的临床特征、接受治疗状况及其转归,评估其病死风险相关因素,评价CRIB、SNAPPE-II评分系统预测我国早产儿病死风险的价值。方法：对2010年1月至2011年10月间新生儿重症监护室（NICU）收治的127例需要机械通气的VLBWI进行前瞻性数据收集。结果：纳入患儿平均胎龄为31±2 周,平均体重为1290±170 g,男女比例为1.23∶1,超低出生体重儿占6.3%。接受肺表面活性剂（PS）治疗者占 48.0%;接受气管插管机械通气的患儿占49.6%。总的院内病死率为41.7%。低出生体重、多胎分娩、剖宫产、低PaO2/FiO2比值是病死的独立风险因素,OR值分别为1.611、7.572、4.062、0.133,P<0.05。SNAPPE-II和CRIB评分系统可较好地预测病死转归,ROC曲线下面积分别为0.806、0.777。结论：VLBWI总的病死率仍处于较高水平;低出生体重、多胎分娩、剖宫产、低PaO2/FiO2比值是VLBWI病死的高危因素。应用新生儿危重评分系统可对研究对象疾病危重程度进行量化。     

Can severity‐of‐illness indices for neonatal intensive care predict outcome at 4 years of age?

Aim: To test four neonatal severity-of-illness indices (CRIB, NTISS, SNAP, SNAP-PE) for their ability to predict short- and long-term outcome in very low-birthweight infants receiving neonatal intensive care.

Methods: Data on 240 newborns with birthweights below 1500 g from two Swedish neonatal units were collected. The predictive values of the indices for an adverse outcome in the neonatal period and at 4 y of age were compared with those of gestational age and birthweight.

Results: An early adverse outcome (in-hospital death, severe haemorrhagic-ischaemic brain lesion, retinopathy, chronic lung disease) was better predicted with CRIB (area under ROC curve (Az) = 0.87) and SNAP-PE (Az = 0.86), while SNAP-PE was best for predicting late problems (deviations in growth and psychomotor development, neurosensory impairment, difficulties in concentration, and impairment in vision, and hearing,) (Az = 0.63). All indices predicted the early outcome better than the outcome at the 4-y follow-up. Severity-of-illness indices can be used as instruments to follow and improve the level of neonatal intensive care, but unfortunately seem to be of little value in long-term follow-up.

Conclusion: CRIB and SNAP-PE indices are better in predicting hospital mortality than birthweight. None of the systems can predict adverse outcome at 4 y of age.     

Infant to staff ratios and risk of mortality in very low birthweight infants

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect that infant to staff ratios, in the first three days of life, have on the survival to hospital discharge of very low birthweight infants (<1500 g), having adjusted for initial risk and unit workload. DESIGN: In a retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients, the number of infants per nurse per shift were averaged for the first three days after admission and related to risk of mortality by logistic regression analysis. Infant to staff ratio was divided into terciles of low (1.16-1.58), medium (1.59-1.70), and high (1.71-1.97) infants per staff member. SUBJECTS: 692 very low birthweight infants admitted to the Intensive Care Nursery, Royal Women's Hospital, Brisbane over a four year period from January 1996 to December 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival to hospital discharge, adjusted for initial risk using the Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) score, and adjusted for unit workload using dependency scores. RESULTS: There were 80 deaths among the 692 babies analysed for the study period. The odds of mortality, adjusted for initial risk and infant dependency scores (unit workload), were improved by 82% when an infant/staff ratio of greater than 1.71 occurred, suggesting improved survival with the highest infant/staff ratio. The low and medium staffing levels corresponded with similar odds ratios for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Infants exposed to higher infant to staff ratios have an improved adjusted risk of survival to hospital discharge.     

Short-term outcome of mechanically ventilated infants weighing more than 2499 g at birth: A population based study*

Abstract: Very little data exist describing the neonatal outcome of infants of birthweight 2500 g or more who require mechanical ventilation. Our aim was to collect population-based data on such infants in New South Wales (NSW), and to monitor their neonatal morbidity, mortality to 1 year of age and the associated risk factors. The study group (NICUS infants) comprised all 341 infants weighing >2499 g who were admitted to the seven neonatal intensive care units in New South Wales and mechanically ventilated for 4 h or more between 1 January and 31 December, 1987. Two groups of infants emerged: those who were preterm and mostly had hyaline membrane disease, and term and post-term infants for whom the most common problem was ‘perinatal asphyxia’. The most important factors associated with dying were a birthweight of over 3499 g (OR = 2.6; CI 1.03–6.6) and a 1 min Apgar score <4 (OR = 4.8; C11.4–16.9). Study group mothers were significantly more likely than all NSW mothers to have had a spontaneous abortion in the previous pregnancy (P<0.01), a pre-existing medical condition or an obstetric complication in this pregnancy, or a Caesarean section for this delivery (P<0.001). This is the first population-based study of high-risk neonates without congenital anomalies to clearly document the worsening prognosis associated with a birthweight over 3499 g. Further research should be directed towards identifying prenatal and perinatal factors which might minimize the morbidity and mortality in this group of babies.     

A national study of risk factors associated with mortality in very low birthweight infants in the Malaysian neonatal intensive care units

To determine the risk factors associated with mortality in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NIUC) in Malaysia.

Method:

A prospective observational study of outcome of all VLBW infants born between 1 January 1993 and 30 June 1993 and admitted to the NICU.

Results:

Data of 868 VLBW neonates from 18 centres in Malaysia were collected. Their mean birthweight was 1223 g (95% confidence intervals: 1208–1238 g). Thirty-seven point four per cent (325/868) of these infants died before discharge. After exclusion of all infants with congenital anomalies ( n =66, and nine of them also had incomplete records) and incomplete records ( n =82), stepwise logistic regression analysis of the remaining 720 infants showed that the risk factors that were significantly associated with increased mortality before discharge were: delivery in district hospitals, Chinese race, lower birthweight, lower gestation age, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, pulmonary airleak, necrotizing enterocolitis of stage 2 or 3, confirmed sepsis, hypotension, hypothermia, acute renal failure, intermittent positive pressure ventilation, and umbilical arterial catheterization. Factors that were significantly associated with lower risk of mortality were: use of antenatal steroid, oxygen therapy, surfactant therapy and blood transfusion.

Conclusion:

The mortality of VLBW infants admitted to the Malaysian NICU was high and was also associated with a number of preventable risk factors.     

Another outcome of neonatal intensive care: First year mortality and hospital morbidity

Objectives: To determine first year mortality and hospital morbidity after neonatal intensive care.
Methodology: Cohort study of 6077 surviving infants inborn in one regional hospital in 1988. Nine hundred and eighty-eight received neonatal intensive care and 103 were very low birthweight (VLBW).
Results For infants who required care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the relative risk of dying before their first birthday was 3.6 (95% confidence intervals [Cl] 1.5-8.8). This increased risk was associated with low birthweight (LBW) rather than requirement for NICU care. Of all inborn survivors, 10.4% were readmitted to hospital in the first year and 2.4% more than once. The readmission rate was 20% for NICU survivors and 30% for VLBW infants. The risk of hospitalization was independently associated both with NICU admission (odds ratio 2.3, Cl 1.9-2.9) and with VLBW (OR 1.8, Cl 1.1-3.0). The NICU survivors also had multiple admissions and prolonged hospital stays.
Conclusions Both low birthweight and neonatal illness requiring intensive care are important indicators of continuing medical vulnerability over the first year of life.     

Does lactate level in the first 12 hours of life predict mortality in extremely premature infants?

Aims:   To determine if high lactate levels within the first 12 h of life independently or in combination with Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) II can predict mortality in extremely premature babies.
Study Design:   A retrospective review of medical charts of babies born between 2001 and 2003 with birthweight <1000 g or gestation <28 weeks was performed. Blood gases and highest umbilical lactate levels in first 12 h of life were noted. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for lactate, CRIB and CRIB II as a predictor of mortality. The AUC for lactate and CRIB II were combined using discriminant analysis.
Results:   Two hundred nineteen infants were included in the study, 41 (18.7%) of whom died. The AUC for lactate was 0.67 ( P  < 0.001), while AUCs for CRIB and CRIB II score were 0.81 ( P  < 0.001) and 0.82 ( P  < 0.001), respectively. The AUC for the combined measure of lactate and CRIB II was 0.82, similar to CRIB II.
Conclusions:   Lactate predicts mortality in premature infants, but was found to be inferior to CRIB and CRIB II. Adding lactate level to CRIB II score does not improve its predictive ability.     

In-hospital mortality of newborn infants born before 33 weeks of gestation depends on the initial level of neonatal care: the EPIPAGE study

AIM: To determine the relation between the level of initial neonatal care and in-hospital mortality of infants born before 33 wk of gestation in the era of surfactant therapy. METHODS: A 1 y prospective population-based survey was conducted in the north of France, as part of the EPIPAGE (Epidemiologie des Petits Ages Gestationnels) survey. Perinatal data were recorded for 585 very premature newborns transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit in 1997. The relation between the level of the neonatal unit that provided care for the first consecutive 48 h and in-hospital mortality was assessed by multivariate logistic regression, and adjusted for perinatal data and initial disease severity, estimated by the Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB). RESULTS: The average gestational age (mean +/- SD) was 31.6 +/- 0.62 wk in level I, 30.7 +/- 0.21 in level II, 29.9 +/- 0.13 in non-teaching level III, and 29.0 +/- 0.15 in the level III teaching unit (p < 0.0001). The mean in-hospital mortality rate was 8.4% and did not differ by level of care (p(trend) = 0.17). After adjustment for perinatal data and CRIB, however, with the teaching unit as the reference, the risk of death was significantly higher in level I-II units [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 7.9, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.2-29.1], but not in the non-teaching level III units (ORa = 0.8, 95% CI 0.3-2.1). CONCLUSION: In-hospital mortality in non-teaching level III units was similar to that in a teaching unit, but significantly higher in level I-level II units. Neonatal care of newborns delivered before 33 wk of gestation should initially occur in level III units.     

Nurse staffing in relation to risk-adjusted mortality in neonatal care

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether risk-adjusted mortality in very low birthweight or preterm infants is associated with levels of nursing provision. DESIGN: Prospective study of risk-adjusted mortality in infants admitted to a random sample of neonatal units. SETTING: Fifty four UK neonatal intensive care units stratified by: patient volume; consultant availability; nurse:cot ratios. PATIENTS: A group of 2585 very low birthweight (birthweight <1500 g) or preterm (<31 weeks gestation) infants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Death before discharge or planned deaths at home, excluding lethal malformations, after adjusting for initial risk 12 hours after birth using gestation at birth and measures of illness severity in relation to nursing provision calculated for each baby's neonatal unit stay. RESULTS: A total of 57% of nursing shifts were understaffed, with greater shortages at weekends. Risk-adjusted mortality was inversely related to the provision of nurses with specialist neonatal qualifications (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.97). Increasing the ratio of nurses with neonatal qualifications to intensive care and high dependency infants to 1:1 was associated with a decrease in risk-adjusted mortality of 48% (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: Risk-adjusted mortality did not differ across neonatal units. However, survival in neonatal care for very low birthweight or preterm infants was related to proportion of nurses with neonatal qualifications per shift. The findings could be used to support specific standards of specialist nursing provision in neonatal and other areas of intensive and high dependency care.     

几种新生儿危重评分的比较

新生儿危重评分是一种评估疾病危重程度,预测死亡风险的评分系统,用以指导新生儿重症监护室的临床工作,对我国日益发展的新生儿医学有其必要性和重要性.该文着重介绍并比较了几种国际上常用的危重评分系统.与新生儿急性生理学评分、新生儿急性生理学评分围生期补充及国内新生儿危重评分相比,新生儿临床危险指数、新生儿急性生理学评分-Ⅱ、新生儿急性生理学评分围生期补充-Ⅱ及新生儿临床危险指数-Ⅱ的变量更精简,分度更科学,评分时间缩短,预测死亡风险的准确性较高,具有更高的实用及推广价值.     

The clinical risk index of babies (CRIB) score in India

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of clinical risk index of babies (CRIB score) in predicting neonatal mortality in extremely preterm neonates, compared to birth weight and gestation. METHODS: 97 preterm neonates with gestational age less than 31 weeks or birth weight less than or equal to 1500 g were enrolled for the prospective longitudinal study. Relevant neonatal data was recorded. Blood gas analysis results and the maximum and the minimum FiO2 required by babies in first 12 hours of life were noted. Mortality was taken as death while the baby was in nursery. The prediction of mortality by birth weight, gestational age and CRIB score was done using the Logistic model, and expressed as area under the ROC curve. RESULTS: The area under the ROC curve for birth weight, gestational age and CRIB score was almost the same, the areas being 0.829, 0.819 and 0.823 respectively. Hence CRIB score did not fare better than birth weight and gestational age in predicting neonatal mortality. CONCLUSION: The CRIB score did not improve on the ability of birth weight and gestational age to predict neonatal mortality in the study.     

Early predictors of mortality in very low birth weight neonates.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early predictors of mortality in very low birth weight neonates. SETTING: Teaching hospital. DESIGN: Case control study. METHODS: Hospital born very low birth weight newborns (500-1500 g) enrolled for study and followed up till death or 28 days. Infants' birth data and data on physiologic alterations, investigation and interventions in the first 24 hours of life and CRIB score were analyzed for their ability to predict neonatal mortality. RESULTS: 115 subjects were enrolled into the study of which 47 died in the neonatal period. The factors significantly associated with early neonatal mortality included birth weight, gestation, low Apgar scores, need for assisted ventilation at birth, need for supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation in the first 24 hours, presence of shock, hypoxia and acidosis (p < 0.05). The factors associated with late neonatal mortality were birth weight and gestation only. Multivariate analysis of these factors showed that besides low birth weight, shock, need for mechanical ventilation, acidosis and high alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients were significant predictors of neonatal mortality. When compared with the CRIB score, birth weight <1200g proved to be an equally good predictor of mortality risk. CONCLUSION: VLBW neonates with disturbed cardio-pulmonary physiology during the first 24 hours of life, especially those in need of mechanical ventilation, are at an increased risk of early neonatal mortality.     

The clinical risk index of babies (CRIB) score in India

Objective : To assess the usefulness of clinical risk index of babies (CRIB score) in predicting neonatal mortality in extremely preterm neonates, compared to birth weight and gestation.Methods : 97 preterm neonates with gestational age less than 31 weeks or birth weight less than or equal to 1500 g were enrolled for the prospective longitudinal study. Relevant neonatal data was recorded. Blood gas analysis results and the maximum and the minimum FiO₂ required by babies in first 12 hours of life were noted. Mortality was taken as death while the baby was in nursery. The prediction of mortality by birth weight, gestational age and CRIB score was done using the Logistic model, and expressed as area under the ROC curve.Results : The area under the ROC curve for birth weight, gestational age and CRIB score was almost the same, the areas being 0.829, 0.819 and 0.823 respectively. Hence CRIB score did not fare better than birth weight and gestational age in predicting neonatal mortality.Conclusion : The CRIB score did not improve on the ability of birth weight and gestational age to predict neonatal mortality in the study.     

Outcomes following surgery for congenital heart disease in low-birthweight infants

AIM: To describe cardiac surgery, survival and outcomes for low-birthweight (< or = 2500 g) infants undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease. METHODS: Using data from a prospectively collected population-based database of admissions to neonatal intensive care units in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, we identified all low-birthweight infants undergoing cardiac surgery between 1992 and 2001. Infants with only a persistent ductus arteriosus were excluded. Two-year cardiac and neurodevelopmental outcome data were sought from hospital medical records. RESULTS: A total of 121 low-birthweight infants underwent cardiac surgery, of whom 34% had a congenital syndrome or non-cardiac birth defect. Most (81%) underwent a palliative surgical procedure in the neonatal period. There were 19 early (15.7%) and 19 late deaths giving a 2-year mortality of 31%. Factors associated with mortality included birthweight below 1500 g (P = 0.006), low weight at surgery (P = 0.028) and Apgar score at 1 min (P = 0.019). No single factor predicted 30-day mortality. By 2 years of age, 27 (33% of survivors) were known to have neurodevelopmental delay. Although 22 children are known to be developing normally, the neurodevelopmental status of 34 children was not known. CONCLUSIONS: These surgical data were comparable to previous single-institution studies. This group had a high risk of disability due to prematurity, low birthweight and associated conditions. There is a need to prospectively assess and manage neurodevelopmental outcomes in this group.     

Survival and place of delivery following preterm birth: 1994-96.

AIM: To compare the survival of premature infants, adjusted for disease severity, in different types of neonatal intensive care setting. METHODS: A prospective observational study in the Trent Health Region was carried out of all infants born to resident mothers at or before 32 weeks of gestation between 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1996 inclusive. The 16 neonatal units in Trent were subdivided into five relatively large units which regularly took outside referrals and 11 smaller units which provided intensive care for a variable proportion (sometimes nearly 100%) of their local population. Data regarding obstetric management, neonatal care, and outcome were collected by independent neonatal nurses who visited the units on a regular basis. Survival rates were compared with an expected rate calculated using the Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB). For either setting to be abnormally good or bad actual deaths had to exceed the 95% confidence interval of the CRIB estimate. RESULTS: Actual survival rates for infants < or = 32 weeks gestation and for the group of babies < or = 28 weeks gestation fell within the 95% confidence interval of the rate predicted by CRIB for both the larger referral units and the smaller district units. Similarly, compared with the CRIB prediction, infants transferred in utero or postnatally were not adversely affected in terms of the number who died. CONCLUSION: Previous results from this geographical population, showing that survival of babies < or = 28 weeks gestation was better when their care was provided by referral units, are no longer sustained. Significant changes to the neonatal services over time make the current results plausible. However, the new structure poses potential threats to the teaching, training, and research base of the neonatal service as a whole.     

Survey of the management of neonatal hyperglycaemia in Australasia

AIM: Hyperglycaemia is a common problem in very low birthweight (VLBW) preterm neonates and has been associated with an increase in intraventricular haemorrhage and mortality. There are few data to guide clinicians on the best range of blood glucose levels to aim for when treating hyperglycaemic preterm babies with insulin. The aim of this study was to survey all Australasian tertiary neonatal intensive care units for their current practice in the definition and management of neonatal hyperglycaemia to aid in the design of a randomised controlled trial of the effect of tight glycaemic control on long-term outcome in VLBW babies. METHODS: An online survey was sent to the 27 tertiary neonatal units in Australasia asking the respondents for details of their unit's definition and management of hyperglycaemia in VLBW infants. RESULTS: Twenty-three tertiary neonatal units responded to the questionnaire. There were six different definitions of hyperglycaemia, with most units defining neonatal hyperglycaemia as a blood glucose level greater than 10 mM. There were large variations in the criteria for commencing insulin (blood glucose level 8-15 mM +/- glycosuria) and target blood glucose ranges for babies on insulin (ranging from 2.5-8 mM to 8-15 mM). CONCLUSIONS: There is a wide variation in the management of neonatal hyperglycaemia between tertiary neonatal units in Australasia. This reflects the paucity of data available in this area. Further research on the management of neonatal hyperglycaemia is needed.     

Predicting outcome in very low birthweight infants using an objective measure of illness severity and cranial ultrasound scanning

AIM—To investigate the feasibility of developing an objective tool for predicting death and severe disability using routinely available data, including an objective measure of illness severity, in very low birthweight babies.METHOD—A cohort study of 297 premature babies surviving the first three days of life was made. Predictive variables considered included birthweight, gestation, 3 day cranial ultrasound appearances and 3 day CRIB (clinical risk index for babies) score. Models were developed using regression techniques and positive predictive values (PPV) and likelihood ratios (LR) were calculated.RESULTS—On univariate analysis, birthweight, gestation, 3 day CRIB score and 3 day cranial ultrasound appearances were each associated with death. On multivariate analysis, 3 day CRIB score and 3 day cranial ultrasound appearances remained independently associated. A 3 day CRIB score > 4 along with intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) grade 3 or 4 was associated with a PPV of 64% and an LR of 9.8 (95% confidence limits 3.5, 27.9). Only 3 day CRIB score and 3 day cranial ultrasound appearances were associated with severe disability on univariate analysis. Both remained independently associated on multivariate analysis. A 3 day CRIB score > 4 along with an IVH grade of 3 or 4 was associated with a PPV of 60% and an LR of 24.2 (95% CI 4.4, 133.3).CONCLUSION—Incorporating objective measures of illness severity may improve current prediction of death and disability in premature infants.