Low flow nasal cannula requirement among preterm infants: predictors and description of clinical course.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to identify potential risk factors associated with longer duration of supplemental oxygen use in preterm infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) to better inform families and weaning protocols.

STUDY

DESIGN

This is a retrospective study of infants with a birth gestational age (GA) < 32 0/7 weeks admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between October 2017 and September 2019.

RESULTS

A total of 172 infants met criteria for inclusion and analysis, of which 69 (40.1%) infants required LFNC. Risk factors for longer duration included lower birth GA or birth weight, increased ventilator days, and diagnosis of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). BPD was diagnosed in 69.6% who required LFNC, of which 47.8% were discharged on home oxygen.

CONCLUSION

Younger birth GA, lower birth weight, increased ventilator days, and presence of a PDA were identified as risk factors for longer LFNC duration.