Rehospitalization rates of infants of less than 32 weeks gestation in the first year of life

Abstract

Objective: Preterm infants are at increased risk of rehospitalization after nursery discharge. We aimed to investigate the perinatal and environmental risk factors associated with increased risk of rehospitalization and determine the causes and duration of the rehospitalizations. Methods: Hospital records of infants of gestational age of less than 32 weeks (n=73) discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit at Marmara University Hospital between the period of 1998-2002 and 100 full-term infants born in the same hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Thirty-two (53%) preterm infants were rehospitalized during- follow up period and 12 (20%) infants were readmitted more than once, whereas 5% of full-term infants were rehospitalized in the first year of life (p>0.5) and perinatal problems such as respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage (p>0.5). Extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW) had a higher risk of rehospitalization (85.7% versus 14.3%), (p=0.02). In full-term infants, hyperbilirubinemia, in preterm infants prematurity anemia, respiratory illness, urinary tract infections were the most common reasons for rehospitalization. Conclusion: In conclusion, preterm infants continue to be confronted by new problems after discharge from hospital and the incidence of rehospitalization is high.