Neonatal Med.  2014 Nov;21(4):224-232. 10.5385/nm.2014.21.4.224.

The Readmission of Preterm Infants of 30-33 Weeks Gestational Age within 1 Year Following Discharge from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Ajou University Hospital, Suwon, Korea.
  • 2Department of Pediatrics, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pediatrics, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, Korea.
  • 4Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 5Department of Pediatrics, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 6Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Korea.
  • 7Department of Pediatrics, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
  • 8Department of Pediatrics, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
  • 9Department of Pediatrics, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.
  • 10Department of Pediatrics, Gangneung Asan Hospital, Gangneung, Korea.
  • 11Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
  • 12Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to evaluate the readmission rate of preterm infants of 30-33 weeks gestational age (GA) within 1 year following discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
METHODS
This research was a part of the Retrospective Study to Evaluate Rehospitalization & Health Care Utilization after NICU Discharge in Preterm Infants (< or =33 weeks) II (RHANPI II) project conducted by the Committee on Data Collection and Statistical Analysis of the Korean Society of Neonatology. Enrolled infants (n=1,257) of 46 hospitals from April to September 2012, were retrospectively studied.
RESULTS
The average GA and birth weight of the study population was 32(+2)+/-1(+1) weeks and 1,785+/-386 g, respectively. The cumulative readmission rate during the 360 days following discharge from the NICU was 27.3%. The cumulative readmission rate according to GA was 36.4%, 30.1%, 25.9% and 22.7% for infants born at 30, 31, 32 and 33 weeks GA, respectively. The corresponding respiratory readmission rate was 16.3%; this was 59.8% of total readmissions. There was no significant difference in the respiratory readmission rate according to GA group (log-rank test for trend, P-value=0.0558). Of the infants who were readmitted with respiratory problems, 57.0% (n=53/93) tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
CONCLUSION
The cumulative readmission rate during the 360 days following discharge from the NICU was 27.3%. Respiratory problems were the most common cause of readmission, and RSV was the most common virus associated with respiratory readmission. Additionally, there was no difference in the rate of respiratory readmission according to GA group.

Keyword

Infants; Premature; Readmission; Respiratory syncytial virus

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Data Collection
Delivery of Health Care
Gestational Age*
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature*
Intensive Care, Neonatal*
Korea
Neonatology
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
Retrospective Studies
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