Phototherapy: a new risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight preterm infants? aretrospective case-control study.

Abstract

To investigate the association between phototherapy (PT) and the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. A retrospective case-control study was conducted on VLBW infants with or without NEC (stage IIA or greater) born at ≤35 weeks' gestation in a tertiary hospital over 7 years. Sample size calculation, trend test, as well as univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were employed. A total of 824 VLBW infants were reviewed, with 74 cases and 122 controls finally enrolled. The odds of NEC increased with the duration and number of PT sessions. Exposure to >120 h and >4 instances of PT were significantly associated with NEC in multivariate analysis. This is the first study suggesting a potential association between PT and development of NEC in VLBW infants. This association needs further exploration.