Improving the Life Chances of NICU Graduates.

Abstract

* Abbreviations: FBBH — : Following Baby Back Home RCT — : randomized clinical trial Although the rates of mortality among extremely preterm and/or low birth weight newborns have been declining for decades, addressing the ongoing health and developmental needs of NICU graduates continues to be of considerable importance, given their increased susceptibility to neurodevelopmental impairments, other health problems, and mortality over the life course.1 In the current issue of Pediatrics , McKelvey et al2 report on a propensity-matched study of a home-visiting program designed to support parents in addressing their infants’ needs after NICU discharge. The program, known as Following Baby Back Home (FBBH), is delivered by nurse–social-worker teams who focus on helping parents meet their children’s medical and developmental needs, including supporting adherence to medical appointments, linking families with other health and human services, and promoting infants’ growth and development. The program continues through child age 3. Using a carefully crafted propensity-matched design, the authors found that compared with those in the control group ( n = 485), infants enrolled in FBBH ( n = 485) had higher rates of health … Address correspondence to David Olds, PhD, Prevention Research Center for Family and Child Health, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 13121 E 17th Ave, Room 5317, Aurora, CO 80045. E-mail: david.olds{at}cuanschutz.edu