Behzadpour Hengameh K, Chappetto Jennifer, Ambrose Tracey, Sideris Irene, Buxton Claire, Reilly Brian K, Robinson Tommie L, Mahshie James, Preciado Diego A
Division of Otolaryngology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Department of Audiology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 May;172(5):1756-1760. doi: 10.1002/ohn.1152. Epub 2025 Jan 31.
Despite significant improvements in universal newborn hearing screenings (NBHS), infants are still lost to follow-up (LTF) after failed screening, delaying timely diagnosis and intervention. The challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and its response likely exacerbated timely adherence to early diagnosis and intervention. This study aimed to assess the LTF rate for infants who did not pass their NBHS within Washington, DC and compare the LFT before and during the pandemic.
Cohort study analyzing variables potentially impacting LTF.
Web-based analysis of DC Oz e-Screener Plus for NBHS reports.
Multivariate and univariate regression analyses were used to identify significant demographic and clinical factors from March 2019 to March 2021.
Of the 15,661 born during the period analyzed, 830 (5.3%) infants did not pass their initial hearing screening: 406 (48.9%) infants in the pre-COVID group and 424 (51.1%) infants in the COVID group. Of those infants failing their initial screening, 388 (46.7%) did not pass a follow-up outpatient screening. Of these, 342 (88.1%) had no record of receiving a Diagnostic Auditory Brainstem Response assessment. The overall LTF rate in the pre-COVID group was 90.7% compared to 83% in the COVID group. Multivariate analyses showed that male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.3), income <100 K (OR = 1.9), wards 7 and 8 (OR = 1.9), and pre-COVID group (OR = 0.7) were statistically associated with LTF.
There are many factors impacting LTF rates and future follow-up when using the protocols recommended by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing. This study will be the basis for implementing planned improvement strategies for reducing LTF rates.
尽管新生儿听力普遍筛查（NBHS）有了显著改善，但筛查未通过的婴儿仍会失访（LTF），从而延误及时诊断和干预。2019冠状病毒病大流行期间及其应对措施带来的挑战可能加剧了对早期诊断和干预的及时依从性。本研究旨在评估华盛顿特区未通过新生儿听力普遍筛查的婴儿的失访率，并比较大流行前和大流行期间的失访情况。
队列研究，分析可能影响失访的变量。
基于网络分析DC Oz e-Screener Plus的新生儿听力普遍筛查报告。
采用多变量和单变量回归分析，确定2019年3月至2021年3月期间的重要人口统计学和临床因素。
在分析期间出生的15661名婴儿中，830名（5.3%）婴儿初次听力筛查未通过：新冠疫情前组有406名（48.9%）婴儿，新冠疫情组有424名（51.1%）婴儿。在初次筛查未通过的婴儿中，388名（46.7%）未通过后续门诊筛查。其中，342名（88.1%）没有接受诊断性听性脑干反应评估的记录。新冠疫情前组的总体失访率为90.7%，而新冠疫情组为83%。多变量分析显示，男性（优势比[OR]=1.3）、收入<10万（OR=1.9）、第7和第8区（OR=1.9）以及新冠疫情前组（OR=0.7）与失访在统计学上相关。
使用婴儿听力联合委员会推荐的方案时，有许多因素会影响失访率和未来的随访。本研究将作为实施计划中的改善策略以降低失访率的基础。
