Trends in outcomes for very preterm infants in the southern region of Sweden over a 10-year period.

AIM: To investigate trends in mortality and morbidity in very preterm infants.

METHODS

Population-based perinatal register; liveborn infants 22 + 0 to 31 + 6 gestational weeks were investigated (time period 1995-2004). Time trends for mortality and common morbidities were explored using logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Data from 1614 liveborn infants were included. There was an increase in live born infants below 25 gestational weeks, annual odds ratio (OR) 1.15 (95% CI: 1.08-1.23) and a decrease in mortality annual OR 0.82 (95% CI: 0.69-0.98). The rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and sepsis increased during the study period, annual ORs of 1.10 (95% CI: 1.04-1.17) and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.03-1.16). The duration of mechanical ventilation increased for surviving infants <25 gestational weeks (p = 0.003), while the duration of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) increased for infants <28 gestational weeks (p = <0.001). There were no changes in the rates of intraventricular haemorrhages (IVH, 3-4), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP, 3-5), seizures or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

CONCLUSION

During the 10-year period changes in mortality and morbidity were most pronounced for infants with GA <28 gestational weeks. The increasing rate of sepsis was present in infants <28 gestational weeks, whereas the increase in BPD was demonstrated in the whole study population <32 gestational weeks.