1. Single-centre vs. population-based outcome data of extremely preterm infants at the limits of viability.
- Author
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Kutz P, Horsch S, Kühn L, and Roll C
- Subjects
- Age Factors, Chi-Square Distribution, Cohort Studies, Fetal Viability, Germany epidemiology, Gestational Age, Humans, Infant Mortality, Infant, Newborn, Intensive Care Units, Neonatal, Severity of Illness Index, Survival Rate, Developmental Disabilities epidemiology, Infant, Premature, Infant, Premature, Diseases mortality, Intensive Care, Neonatal statistics & numerical data, Outcome Assessment, Health Care methods
- Abstract
Aim: In response to the disappointing outcome data of the population-based EPICure study published in 2000, we compared the outcome of infants 22 0/7 to 25 6/7 weeks of gestational age (GA) in a single tertiary care centre 2000-2004 with that of EPICure., Methods: EPICure tools and definitions, including 30 months' Bayley Scales., Results: Of 83 infants <26 weeks born alive, more were admitted to intensive care--82% vs. 68% (p < 0.0001)--and more infants survived to discharge (57% vs. 26%, p < 0.0001; 69% vs. 39%, p < 0.01, of those admitted to intensive care). More infants, as a percentage of live births, survived without severe (41%, 34/83 vs. 20%, 233/1185, p < 0.0001) or overall disability (22%, 18/83 vs. 13%, 155/1185, p = 0.03). However, at the border of viability--GA 23 and 24 weeks--the rate of infants surviving without overall disability was not significantly higher (13%, 6/45 vs. 9%, 56/623)., Conclusion: In infants <26 weeks of GA, increased rates of survival and survival without disability were observed in a single-centre inborn cohort born 5-8 years later than the EPICure cohort. This did not translate into increased survival without overall disability in infants of 23-24 weeks of GA.
- Published
- 2009
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