Perinatal risk factors of adverse outcome in very preterm children: a role of initial treatment of respiratory insufficiency?

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica 2004-02, Vol.93 (2), p.185-189
• Main Authors: Hansen, B Mølholm, Hoff, B, Uldall, P, Greisen, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral Palsy - epidemiology; Cognition Disorders - epidemiology; Cohort Studies; Emergency and intensive care: neonates and children. Prematurity. Sudden death; Female; Follow-Up Studies; General aspects; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Intensive care medicine; Male; Mechanical ventilation; Medical sciences; nasal CPAP; outcome; Positive-Pressure Respiration - methods; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; preterm infants; Prospective Studies; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Insufficiency - therapy; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2004.tb00703.x

Aim: To investigate risk factors of adverse outcome in a cohort of very preterm children treated mainly with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during the neonatal course. Methods: In Denmark, preterm children are treated with nasal CPAP as a first approach to respiratory support. A national prospective study of all infants with a birthweight below 1000 g or a gestational age below 28 wk born in 1994–1995 was initiated to evaluate this approach. Of the 269 surviving children 164 (61%) were not treated with mechanical ventilation in the neonatal period. A follow‐up of the children at 5 y of age was conducted. Data from the neonatal period and the 5‐y follow‐up were analysed. Results: In multivariate analyses including 250 children, a severely abnormal neonatal brain ultrasound scan was predictive of cerebral palsy (OR= 19.9, CI 95%: 6.1–64.8) and intellectual disability (OR = 6.2, CI 95%: 2.3–16.5). A high Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) score (OR = 2.4, CI 95%: 1.1–5.5) and chronic lung disease (OR = 2.8, CI 95%: 1.2–6.9) were predictive of intellectual disability. In univariate analyses mechanical ventilation was associated with cerebral palsy (OR = 4.3, CI 95%: 1.7–10.8) and intellectual disability (OR = 2.2, CI 95%: 1.2–4.2), but the associations became insignificant in multivariate analyses including chronic lung disease and a severely abnormal ultrasound scan. Conclusion: The associations between neonatal risk factors and adverse outcome in our cohort were very similar to those found in other cohorts with another initial treatment of respiratory insufficiency. We found no significant adverse effects of mechanical ventilation beyond what could be explained by associations with chronic lung disease and IVH 3–4/PVL.