Mortality and morbidity among infants

Abstract

Objective To explore the morbidity and mortality rates for <32 weeks gestational age(GA) preterm infants in Bayi Children's Hospital, the Military General Hospital of Beijing, aims to identify clinically applicable strategies for improvement in outcomes of preterm infants. Methods Neonatal data were collected from 1838 infants of very low GA(<32 weeks) who were born at or transferred to Bayi Children's Hospital, the Military General Hospital of Beijing, in 2010-2012. The infants were divided into 7 groups according to GA. The clinical data and complications were analyzed, and the mortality rate during initial hospitalization and major neonatal morbidity such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC), severe retinopathy of prematurity(ROP), severe intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH), and sepsis in survivors were assessed. Results From 2010 to 2012, there was a significant decrea-sing trend in the mortality rate for infants 0.05) except 28 week GA infants(P=0.01). The major morbidity rate in survivors of infants 0.05). Mortality and major morbidity rates in all years were highest in infants at the lowest GAs(GA 0.05). Conclusions Mortality and major neonatal morbidity in the survivors decreased in infants <32 weeks GA between 2010 and 2012. But extremely low GA infants(<28 week) have high mortality and major morbidity known to be associated with long term adverse consequences. Optimized the management of severe complications can help to improve the outcome of the infants' medicare. Key words: Mortality; Morbidity; Outcomes; Extremely premature infants