Pre-discharge Cardiorespiratory Monitoring in Preterm Infants. the CORE Study.

Ensuring cardiorespiratory (CR) stability is essential for a safe discharge. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a new pre-discharge protocol named CORE on the risk of hospital readmission (RHR). Preterm infants admitted in our NICU between 2015 and 2018 were randomly assigned to CORE (exposed) or to standard (not-exposed) discharge protocol. CORE included 24 h-clinical observation, followed by 24 h-instrumental CR monitoring only for high-risk infants. RHR 12 months after discharge and length of stay represent the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Three hundred and twenty three preterm infants were enrolled. Exposed infants had a lower RHR (log-rank < 0.05). The difference was especially marked 3 months after discharge (9.09 vs. 21.6%; = 0.004). The hospital length of stay in exposed and not-exposed infants was 39(26-58) and 43(26-68) days, respectively ( = 0.16). The CORE protocol could help neonatologists to define the best timing for discharge reducing RHR without lengthening hospital stay.