Low gestational age and chronic lung disease are synergistic risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity

Aims

This retrospective, population based study was designed to investigate risk factors for development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and their possible interrelationships, in neonates of gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks born in a well-defined geographical region.

Study design—subjects

The study population included all preterm infants born alive with GA 24–32 weeks in Northwestern Greece during a 9-year period and hospitalised in the regional neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Outcome measurements

The association was assessed of the presence of ROP with maternal factors: age, pathology of pregnancy, in-vitro fertilisation, multiple gestation, mode of delivery, perinatal factors: gender, antenatal steroids, transportation, resuscitation, GA, birth weight (BW), small for GA status and postnatal morbidity: chronic lung disease (CLD), intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), maximum O₂ needs, hypoxic/hyperoxic episodes, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), sepsis, using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

Of 189 infants without congenital anomalies born at GA 24–32 weeks ROP was diagnosed in 24 (12.7%) (> grade 2: 6). Logistic regression analysis showed ROP to be strongly associated with GA, odds ratio (OR) 2.1, confidence interval (CI) 1.3–3.3, p < 0.01 and CLD, OR 10.2, CI 2.3–44, p < 0.01, respectively, independent of confounding factors. By estimating interaction on an additive scale it was shown that the combined risk effect of GA and CLD was larger than the sum of the individual risk effects, implying synergistic effect.

Conclusions

ROP was closely and independently related to both low GA and the diagnosis of CLD, which were interrelated in the development of ROP.     

Incidence of and risk factors for neonatal morbidity after active perinatal care: extremely preterm infants study in Sweden (EXPRESS)

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of neonatal morbidity in extremely preterm infants and to identify associated risk factors. Methods: Population based study of infants born before 27 gestational weeks and admitted for neonatal intensive care in Sweden during 2004–2007. Results: Of 638 admitted infants, 141 died. Among these, life support was withdrawn in 55 infants because of anticipation of poor long‐term outcome. Of 497 surviving infants, 10% developed severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), 5.7% cystic periventricular leucomalacia (cPVL), 41% septicaemia and 5.8% necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC); 61% had patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and 34% developed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) stage ≥3. Eighty‐five per cent needed mechanical ventilation and 25% developed severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Forty‐seven per cent survived to one year of age without any severe IVH, cPVL, severe ROP, severe BPD or NEC. Tocolysis increased and prolonged mechanical ventilation decreased the chances of survival without these morbidities. Maternal smoking and higher gestational duration were associated with lower risk of severe ROP, whereas PDA and poor growth increased this risk. Conclusion: Half of the infants surviving extremely preterm birth suffered from severe neonatal morbidities. Studies on how to reduce these morbidities and on the long‐term health of survivors are warranted.     

早产儿支气管肺发育不良危险因素及2岁时随访结局

目的探讨早产儿发生支气管肺发育不良（BPD）的危险因素及远期随访结局。方法 以2012年1月至2013年12月在复旦大学附属儿科医院新生儿科病房住院的胎龄≤32周、出生体重≤1 500 g及生后7 d内入院的BPD早产儿为BPD组,同期入住我院的非BPD早产儿中选取与BPD组等同样本量的病例为对照组。采集与BPD发生的母亲和新生儿因素行单因素分析和多因素分析。同时统计BPD早产儿生后1岁内和~2岁的支气管炎、肺炎、喘息发作次数和住院次数等指标。结果 BPD组和对照组均纳入了156例早产儿。单因素分析显示,BPD组母亲年龄（P=0.046）、先兆子（P=0.025）和阴道产（P<0.001）比例显著高于对照组;BPD组出生胎龄、出生体重显著低于对照组 (P均<0.001 )。BPD组1 和5 min Apgar 评分,败血症 ≥72 h、动脉导管未闭（PDA）、早产儿视网膜病变、应用肺表面活性物质、呼吸机相关性肺炎、机械通气≥7 d的比例均与对照组差异有统计学意义。多因素Logistic回归分析显示胎龄(OR= 0.46,95%CI:0.37~0.58)、机械通气≥7 d(OR=9.47,95%CI：3.70~24.27)、PDA(OR=2.21,95%CI：1.18~4.12)、先兆子(OR=4.91,95%CI：1.26~19.15 )是发生BPD的危险因素。BPD组1岁以内支气管炎、喘息的发生率高于对照组,再入院率两组差异无统计学意义;BPD组生后~2岁较生后1岁以内肺炎的发生率显著下降,支气管炎、喘息的发生率及再入院率差异无统计学意义。结论 低出生胎龄、机械通气≥7 d、PDA、先兆子是发生BPD的危险因素;BPD早产儿在生后1年以内下呼吸道感染的发生率增高。     

Risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very low birth weight newborns treated with mechanical ventilation in the first week of life

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in a population of very low birth weight (BW) newborns treated with mechanical ventilation in the first week of life who survived the 28 days. The effects of antenatal steroids, sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), fluid management and ventilator support strategies were investigated. This was a prospective study of a cohort of 86 newborns with BW below 1500 g who were born alive between the period of September 2000 to November 2002, treated at the University Hospital of Medical School Campinas, Brazil. The BPD was defined as the oxygen dependence in the 28 days, with consistent radiology findings. A logistic regression analysis was realized to identify the risk factors associated to BPD. Among the very low BW newborns, 45 developed BPD. The univariate analysis showed that besides BW and gestational age (GA), other factors such as FiO(2) > or = 0.60 (RR : 2.03; 95% CI: 1.4-2.94), PIP > or = 21 cm H(2)O (RR : 1.73; 95% CI: 1.12-2.65), surfactant therapy (RR : 1.68; 95% CI: 1.14-2.48), fluid volume on day 7 >131 ml/kg/day (RR : 1.81; 95% CI: 1.18-2.78), presence of PDA (RR : 1.95; 95% CI: 1.36-2.8) and pneumothorax (RR : 1.71; 95% CI: 1.18-2.45) were associated to an increase in the risk of BPD. When the variables were analysed concomitantly, using the multivariate logistic regression model, the most important risk factors for the development of BPD were GA < or = 30 weeks (RR : 2.76; 95% CI: 1.23-6.19), PIP > or = 21 cm H(2)O (RR : 1.92; 95% CI: 1.04-3.54), fluid volume on day 7 >131 ml/kg/day (RR : 2.09; 95% CI: 1.14-3.85) and presence of PDA (RR : 1.94; 95% CI : 1.03-3.65). The risk for BPD due to the association of these four factors was 96.4%. Finally, it was observed that the most important risk factors for BPD were prematurity, PDA and elevated levels of PIP as well as fluid volume.     

Regressed retinopathy of prematurity: the relationship between clinical risk factors of the newborn period and regressed retinopathy of prematurity severity in a preterm born population of Stockholm county 1976-81

In a retrospective study, clinical risk factors of the neonatal period were correlated with the severity of regressed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a population of preterm infants (bw less than 1500 g and or gestational age less than 33 weeks). At the age of 5-11 years 134 out of 528 preterm born infants (25.4%) were found to be under ophthalmic care. Reliable information on eye fundus status could be obtained in 105 of them. Regressed ROP was found in 61, the moderate form in 48 (9.1%) and the severe form in 13 (2.5%) patients. Twelve patients (2.3%) had visual acuity of less than 0.3 on the worst eye and two (0.4%) of these patients were blind from ROP. Twenty-four clinical factors of the newborn period were correlated with the severity of regressed ROP. The results suggest that long oxygen exposure in combination with other factors interfering with retinal vasotonus are associated with the degree of the disease developed.     

Retinopathy of prematurity: a global perspective of the epidemics, population of babies at risk and implications for control

Globally at least 50,000 children are blind from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) which is now a significant cause of blindness in many middle income countries in Latin American and Eastern Europe. Retinopathy of prematurity is also being reported from the emerging economies of India and China. The characteristics of babies developing severe disease varies, with babies in middle and low income countries having a much wider range of birth weights and gestational ages than is currently the case in industrialized countries. Rates of disease requiring treatment also tend to be higher in middle and low income countries suggesting that babies are being exposed to risk factors which are, to a large extent, being controlled in industrialised countries. The reasons for this "third epidemic" of ROP are discussed as well as strategies for control, including the need for locally relevant, evidence based criteria which ensure that all babies at risk are examined.     

Influencing factors for the development and severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g北大核心CSCD

Objective To study the influencing factors for the development and severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g who were admitted to Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. According to oxygen dependence on day 28 after birth, they were divided into two groups: BPD (n=218) and non-BPD (n=142). According to disease severity based on oxygen concentration required at the corrected age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the infants with BPD were divided into two groups: mild BPD (n=154) and moderate/severe BPD (n=64). Indices such as perinatal data and nutritional status were compared between groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the influencing factors for BPD and its severity. Results The incidence rate and severity of BPD increased with the reduction in gestational age and birth weight (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a long duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (OR=1.320, P <0.05), hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (OR=2.032, P<0.05), and a prolonged time to reach oral calorie goal of 110 kcal/(kg·d) (OR=1.041, P<0.05) were risk factors for BPD, while an older gestational age was a protective factor against BPD (OR=0.535, P<0.05). Early-onset sepsis (OR=2.524, P<0.05) and a prolonged time to reach oral calorie goal of 110 kcal/(kg·d) (OR=1.029, P<0.05) were risk factors for moderate/severe BPD, while a high mean weight growth velocity was a protective factor against moderate/severe BPD (OR=0.906, P<0.05). Conclusions The incidence rate and severity of BPD in preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g can be reduced by shortening the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, giving early treatment of early-onset sepsis and hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus, adopting active enteral nutritional strategies, and increasing mean weight growth velocity. © 2022 Xiangya Hospital of CSU. All rights reserved.     

Predicting neurosensory disabilities at two years of age in a national cohort of extremely premature infants

Background

Extreme prematurity carries a high risk of neurosensory disability.

Aims

Examine which information obtained pre-, peri- and postnatally may be predictive of neurosensory disabilities at 2 years of age.

Study design

Prospective observational study of all infants born in Norway in 1999 and 2000 with gestational age (GA) 22-27 completed weeks or birth weight (BW) of 500-999 g.

Outcome measures

Incidence of neurosensory disabilities.

Results

Of 373 surviving children, 30 (8%) had major neurosensory disabilities (26 CP, 6 blind, 3 deaf), and a further 46 (12%) had minor visual or hearing disabilities. The rate of major neurosensory disabilities was 19 of 99 (19%) for children with GA 23-25 vs. 8 of 189 (4%) for GA 26-27 weeks (p < 0.001). In a multivariable model, only morbidities detected in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were associated with major neurosensory disabilities; adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 68.6 (18.7, 252.2) for major abnormalities on cerebral ultrasound, 6.8 (1.7, 27.4) for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) grade > 2, 3.2 (1.0, 9.7) for ROP grade 1-2, 6.5 (1.9, 22.3) for prolonged use (≥ 21 days) of steroid treatment for lung disease and 3.1 (1.0, 9.4) for clinical chorioamnionitis. The visual outcome was strongly related to the degree of ROP (p < 0.001), and all who had a normal hearing screen in the NICU had normal hearing at 2 years.

Conclusion

NICU morbidities, rather than GA or intrauterine growth are the significant predictors of major neurosensory disabilities among extreme prematurity surviving to discharge from the NICU.     

Behavioral outcome including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder/hyperactivity disorder and minor neurological signs in perinatal high-risk newborns at 4−6 years of age with relation to risk factors

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic problems with the criteria of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, 4th edn, have been identified. The aim of this study was to clarify whether the minor neurological signs test (MNT) the authors had previously reported was a predictor for the criteria of ADHD or hyperactivity disorder (HD) in perinatal risk children at 4-6 years of age and what kind of risk factors related to MNT. METHODS: A total of 136 children discharged from neonatal intensive care units were examined at the age of 4-6 years by a developmental neuropediatrician using both MNT and diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV ADHD/ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th edn) HD. SPSS base and professional were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: On comparison of diagnostic criteria between ADHD (11.0%) and HD (27.5%), the incidence in the same subjects showed significant difference. MNT scores showed significant correlation with criteria of ADHD (P < 0.01) and HD (P < 0.05). Diagnostic validity of MNT for predicting ADHD was demonstrated with 78% sensitivity and 79% specificity. High positive rates on MNT did not show a significant difference between the very low birthweight (VLBW) and non-low birthweight (NLBW) groups. Behavioral outcome with relation to risk factors were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Apgar 5 in the NLBW group and toxemia of pregnancy and small for gestational age (SGA) in VLBW group were highly correlated with behavioral outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Minor neurological signs test score was a significant predictor for criteria of ADHD and HD. High incidences of positive MNT were suspected in not only VLBW children but also NLBW children and Apgar 5 in NLBW children and toxemia of pregnancy and SGA in VLBW children influenced behavioral outcome.     

Individual,household, and community level risk factors of stunting in children younger than 5 years: Findings from a national surveillance system in Nepal

Despite substantial reductions in recent years in Nepal, stunting prevalence in children younger than 5 years remains high and represents a leading public health concern. To identify factors contributing to the stunting burden, we report multilevel risk factors associated with stunting in 4,853 children aged 6–59 months in a nationally and agroecologically representative random sample from the first year of the Policy and Science for Health, Agriculture, and Nutrition Community Studies, a community‐based observational, mixed‐panel study. Mixed effects logistic regressions controlling for multilevel clustering in the study design were used to examine the association of individual‐, household‐, and community‐level factors associated with stunting. Stunting prevalence was 38% in our sample. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, maternal factors, including maternal height and education, were generally the strongest individual‐level risk factors for stunting, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.52, 95% CI [1.96, 3.25], short (<145 cm) versus not short mothers; AOR = 2.09, 95% CI [1.48, 2.96], uneducated mothers versus secondary school graduates. Among the household‐ and community‐level factors, household expenditure and community infrastructure (presence of paved roads, markets, or hospitals) were strongly, inversely associated with increased stunting risk, AOR = 1.68, 95% CI [1.27, 2.24], lowest versus highest household expenditure quintile; AOR = 2.38, 95% CI [1.36, 4.14], less developed (lacking paved roads, markets, or hospitals) versus more developed communities. Although most factors associated with stunting are not rapidly modifiable, areas for future research and possible interventions emerged.