Mortality in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in South American NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network: timing and causes.

INTRODUCTION

Mortality in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) has remained at ~26% in the past 16 years in the NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network.

OBJECTIVE

Mortality in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) has remained at ~26% in the past 16 years in the NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network.

POPULATION AND METHODS

Observational, multicenter cohort study; retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively. Newborn infants born between 24 and 31+6 weeks of gestation age with a birth weight between 500 and 1500 g in the 26 sites of the NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network were included. The causes of death were analyzed depending on whether they occurred in the delivery room (DR) or in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The postnatal age at time of death was determined using the KaplanMeier test.

RESULTS

Observational, multicenter cohort study; retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively. Newborn infants born between 24 and 31+6 weeks of gestation age with a birth weight between 500 and 1500 g in the 26 sites of the NEOCOSUR Neonatal Network were included. The causes of death were analyzed depending on whether they occurred in the delivery room (DR) or in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The postnatal age at time of death was determined using the KaplanMeier test.

CONCLUSIONS

Important differences were observed in the causes of death of VLBWIs depending on their occurrence in the DR or the NICU. Infectious and respiratory conditions were the most relevant factors following admission to the NICU.