[Changes in neonatal mortality and morbidity of very low birth infants in the county of Nordjylland].

The purpose of the study was to investigate changes in neonatal mortality and morbidity in infants with very low birthweight born in the county of northern Jutland, Denmark. The study was retrospective and included infants with birthweight < or = 1500 grams born in northern Jutland. The period 1988-1989 was compared to the period 1990-1993. Two hundred and seventy (270) infants were included. A decrease in neonatal mortality from 27% to 18% was found, and for infants with birthweight < or = 1000 grams the neonatal mortality declined from 60% to 28%. Possible explanations were a higher frequency of betamethasone administration and the introduction of surfactant into routine medical care. The median birthweight declined by just under 100 grams. The frequency of clinically significant periventricular haemorrhage and the frequency of bronchopulmonary dysplasia did not increase. Long-term follow-up is necessary for the evaluation of the final results of the increased neonatal survival.