Nationwide Survey of Pulmonary Physical Rehabilitation for Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants in Japan.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the implementation rate and timing of pulmonary physical rehabilitation for very low-birth-weight infants (VLBWI) with respiratory distress syndrome (VLBWIs with RDS) in Japan and clarify the current status and challenges of this intervention.

METHODS

This observational study analysed nationwide administrative data associated with the diagnostic procedure combination system in Japan (2014-2019 fiscal year). A total of 16 429 VLBWIs with RDS were included.

RESULTS

The overall rate of pulmonary physical rehabilitation during hospitalisation was 4.1%. Infants who received rehabilitation were more likely to have been born at a gestational age of < 28 weeks and had a birth weight of < 1000 g (p < 0.001). The majority of pulmonary physical rehabilitation interventions lasted 20 min. On average, rehabilitation was initiated approximately 30 days after birth.

INTERPRETATION: The results of this study indicate that pulmonary physical rehabilitation performed during hospitalisation for VLBWIs with RDS is not widespread in Japan. The number of days to intervention may be a key indicator for optimising future pulmonary physical therapy interventions for VLBWIs with RDS.