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Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infant Outcomes in 11 South American NICUs

Journal of Perinatology volume 22, pages 2–7 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze outcomes in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants treated in 11 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) from four South American countries. This study is the first of a multination collaboration and can serve as a baseline for future quality and resource utilization efforts.

STUDY DESIGN: Biodemographic data and multiple outcome measures were prospectively collected from October 1997 until August 1998. A logistic regression model was used to define risk factors in primary outcome measures, death, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Center differences were compared using χ-squared analysis.

RESULTS: In 385 VLBW infants enrolled, mortality rate was 27%, with a range from 11% to 51% among NICUs. A lower BW, lower gestational age (GA), lack of antenatal steroids (AS), and air leaks (AL) were associated with increased risk of death. A lower BW, lower GA, AL, need for surfactant, necrotizing enterocolitis, and need for intubation were associated with increased risk of BPD.

CONCLUSION: This study provides actual information about VLBW infants' prognosis in a SA region. Mortality rate variability among NICUs may be explained by differences in population and resources, but also by lack of implementation of proven beneficial therapies such as AS administration.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Eduardo Bancalari for his advice in preparing this manuscript and Guillermo Marshall (PhD) and Luis Villaroel for statistical assistance.

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GRUPO COLABORATIVO NEOCOSUR

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Grupo Colaborativo Neocosur. From the Unidad de Neonatología Hospital de Clínicas “José de San Martín” Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Unidad de Neonatología Hospital Juan Fernández, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Unidad de Neonatología Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Primer Instituto Privado de Neonatología y Pediatría, Córdoba, Argentina; Unidad de Neonatología Hospital Lagomaggiore, Mendoza, Argentina; Unidad de Neonatología Hospital Clínico Universidad Católica, Santiago, Chile; Unidad de Neonatología Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Unidad de Neonatología Hospital Gustavo Fricke, Via del Mar, Chile; Unidad de Neonatología Hospital Sótero del Río, Santiago, Chile; Unidad de Neonatología Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú Recién Nacidos Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Jose L. Tapia, MD, Departamento de Pediatría, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile

Departamento de Pediatría, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile

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GRUPO COLABORATIVO NEOCOSUR. Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infant Outcomes in 11 South American NICUs. J Perinatol 22, 2–7 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210591

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