Outcomes after Neonatal Seizures in Infants Less Than 29 Weeks' Gestation: A Population-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between neonatal seizure and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 18 to 24 months in extremely preterm neonates. The association between anticonvulsants use and NDI was also assessed.

STUDY DESIGN

In this retrospective cohort study of infants born at <29 weeks' gestation from the Canadian Neonatal Network and Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network databases, we compared mortality and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants who had neonatal seizures with those without seizures after adjusting for confounders.

RESULTS

Of the 2,762 eligible neonates, 133 (4.8%) had seizures. Infants who had seizures were of lower gestation (25.2 vs. 26.2 weeks) and birth weight (819 vs. 920 g) and had higher rates of adverse outcomes. Neonatal seizure was associated with higher odds of composite outcome of death or significant NDI (74 vs. 27%; adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2-5.4). Death or significant NDI was higher in infants with seizures treated with anticonvulsants than those without treatment (89 vs. 70%); however, when adjusted for confounders, it was not significantly different (adjusted OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 0.83-14.6).

CONCLUSION

Neonatal seizures were independently associated with higher odds of death or significant NDI at 18 to 24 months of age. Relationship of anticonvulsant and neurodevelopmental outcomes needs further studies.

Neonatal Outcomes of Very Preterm or Very Low Birth Weight Triplets

OBJECTIVES

To compare the neonatal outcomes of very preterm triplets with those of matched singletons using a large international cohort.

METHODS

A retrospective matched-cohort study of preterm triplets and singletons born between 2007 and 2013 in the International Network for Evaluation of Outcomes in neonates database countries and matched by gestational age, sex, and country of birth was conducted. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality or severe neonatal morbidity (severe neurologic injury, treated retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for model 1 (maternal hypertension and birth weight z score) and model 2 (variables in model 1, antenatal steroids, and mode of birth). Models were fitted with generalizing estimating equations and random effects modeling to account for clustering.

RESULTS

A total of 6079 triplets of 24 to 32 weeks' gestation or 500 to 1499 g birth weight and 18 232 matched singletons were included. There was no difference in the primary outcome between triplets and singletons (23.4% vs 24.0%, adjusted odds ratio: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.83-1.01 for model 1 and 1.00, 95% CI: 0.90-1.11 for model 2). Rates of severe neonatal morbidities did not differ significantly between triplets and singletons. The results were also similar for a subsample of the cohort (1648 triplets and 4944 matched singletons) born at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant differences were identified in mortality or major neonatal morbidities between triplets who were very low birth weight or very preterm and matched singletons.

What to do if A + B doesn't work

The majority of newborn resuscitations require very little beyond simple airway management and assisted ventilation. If cardiovascular collapse is serious enough to warrant additional support, resuscitation algorithms recommend moving to chest compressions and then on to medications and possibly volume replacement if vital signs remain marginal or absent. The evidence base upon which this part of the neonatal resuscitation algorithm is structured is sparse. Chest compressions and medications are rare interventions that do not lend themselves easily to clinical trials. Slowly but surely, however, the genesis of an empirical evidence base for this part of the algorithm is beginning to appear.

Association of Maternal Diabetes With Neonatal Outcomes of Very Preterm and Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants: An International Cohort Study

IMPORTANCE

Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with a 2-times to 3-times higher rate of very preterm birth than in women without diabetes. Very preterm infants are at high risk of death and severe morbidity. The association of maternal diabetes with these risks is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the associations between maternal diabetes and in-hospital mortality, as well as neonatal morbidity in very preterm infants with a birth weight of less than 1500 g.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at 7 national networks in high-income countries that are part of the International Neonatal Network for Evaluating Outcomes in Neonates and used prospectively collected data on 76 360 very preterm, singleton infants without malformations born between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, at 24 to 31 weeks' gestation with birth weights of less than 1500 g, 3280 (4.3%) of whom were born to diabetic mothers.

EXPOSURES

Any type of diabetes during pregnancy.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes were severe neonatal morbidities, including intraventricular hemorrhages of grade 3 to 4, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity needing treatment and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and other morbidities, including respiratory distress, treated patent ductus arteriosus, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were estimated, adjusted for potential confounders, and stratified by gestational age (GA), sex, and network.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) birth weight of offspring born to mothers with diabetes was significantly higher at 1081 (262) g than in offspring born to mothers without diabetes (mean [SD] birth weight, 1027 [270] g). Mothers with diabetes were older and had more hypertensive disorders, antenatal steroid treatments, and deliveries by cesarean delivery than mothers without diabetes. Infants of mothers with diabetes were born at a later GA than infants of mothers without diabetes. In-hospital mortality (6.6% vs 8.3%) and the composite of mortality and severe morbidity (31.6% vs 40.6%) were lower in infants of mothers with diabetes. However, in adjusted analyses, no significant differences in in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR, 1.16 (95% CI, 0.97-1.39) or the composite of mortality and severe morbidity (adjusted OR, 0.99 (95% CI, 0.88-1.10) were observed. With few exceptions, outcomes of infants born to mothers with and without diabetes were similar regardless of infant sex, GA, or country of birth.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In high-resource settings, maternal diabetes is not associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality or severe morbidity in very preterm infants with a birth weight of fewer than 1500 g.

Socioeconomic inequity in survival for deliveries at 22-24 weeks of gestation

OBJECTIVE

Guidelines recommend individual decision making on resuscitating infants of 22-24 weeks' gestational age (GA) at birth. When the decision not to resuscitate is made, infants would likely die soon after delivery, and under some circumstances such neonatal deaths may be registered as stillbirths occurring during delivery (intrapartum stillbirth). Thus we assessed whether socioeconomic factors are associated with peridelivery deaths (during or within 1 hour of delivery) of infants delivered at 22-24 weeks' gestation.

METHODS

We analysed 14 726 singletons of 22-24 weeks' GA using the 2003-2011 Japanese vital statistics, and assessed how maternal characteristics influence risk of peridelivery death as well as intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) and death after 1 hour of age until 40 weeks postmenstrual age.

RESULTS

Living in a municipality with low-average income (lowest tertile (risk ratio 1.32, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.44), middle tertile (risk ratio 1.08, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.19)), younger maternal age (age <20 (risk ratio 1.43, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.75), age 20-34 (risk ratio 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.27)) and having previous live births (risk ratio 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.17) increased risk of peridelivery deaths, but did not increase risk of IUFD or deaths after 1 hour of age. Peridelivery death was twice as likely to occur in births to multiparous teenage mothers in a low-income municipality, compared with those of older primiparous mothers in a wealthier municipality.

CONCLUSIONS

Socioeconomic factors substantially influence whether births of 22-24 weeks' GA survive delivery and the first hour of life. Such disparities may reflect the impact of socioeconomic situations on decision making for resuscitation.

Variations in Oxygen Saturation Targeting, and Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening and Treatment Criteria in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: An International Survey

BACKGROUND

Rates of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and ROP treatment vary between neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Neonatal care practices, including oxygen saturation (SpO2) targets and criteria for the screening and treatment of ROP, are potential contributing factors to the variations.

OBJECTIVES

To survey variations in SpO2 targets in 2015 (and whether there had been recent changes) and criteria for ROP screening and treatment across the networks of the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes in Neonates (iNeo).

METHODS

Online prepiloted questionnaires on treatment practices for preterm infants were sent to the directors of 390 NICUs in 10 collaborating iNeo networks. Nine questions were asked and the results were summarized and compared.

RESULTS

Overall, 329/390 (84%) NICUs responded, and a majority (60%) recently made changes in upper and lower SpO2 target limits, with the median set higher than previously by 2-3% in 8 of 10 networks. After the changes, fewer NICUs (15 vs. 28%) set an upper SpO2 target limit > 95% and fewer (3 vs. 5%) a lower limit < 85%. There were variations in ROP screening criteria, and only in the Swedish network did all NICUs follow a single guideline. The initial retinal examination was carried out by an ophthalmologist in all but 6 NICUs, and retinal photography was used in 20% but most commonly as an adjunct to indirect ophthalmoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

There is considerable variation in SpO2 targets and ROP screening and treatment criteria, both within networks and between countries.

Respiratory Management of Extremely Preterm Infants: An International Survey

BACKGROUND

There are significant international variations in chronic lung disease rates among very preterm infants yet there is little data on international variations in respiratory strategies.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate practice variations in the respiratory management of extremely preterm infants born at < 29 weeks' gestational age (GA) among 10 neonatal networks participating in the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes (iNeo) of Neonates collaboration.

METHODS

A web-based survey was sent to the representatives of 390 neonatal intensive care units from Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Illinois (USA), Israel, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Tuscany (Italy). Responses were based on practices in 2015.

RESULTS

Overall, 321 of the 390 units responded (82%). The majority of units within networks (40-92%) mechanically ventilate infants born at 23-24 weeks' GA on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with 30-39% oxygen in respiratory distress within 48 h after birth, but the proportion of units that offer mechanical ventilation for infants born at 25-26 weeks' GA at similar settings varied significantly (20-85% of units within networks). The most common respiratory strategy for infants born at 27-28 weeks' GA on CPAP with 30-39% oxygen with respiratory distress within 48 h after birth used by units also varied significantly among networks: mechanical ventilation (0-60%), CPAP (3-82%), intubation and surfactant administration with immediate extubation (0-75%), and less invasive surfactant administration (0-68%).

CONCLUSIONS

There are marked variations but also similarities in respiratory management of extremely preterm infants between networks. Further collaboration and exploration is needed to better understand the association of these variations in practice with pulmonary outcomes.

Survival in Very Preterm Infants: An International Comparison of 10 National Neonatal Networks

OBJECTIVES

To compare survival rates and age at death among very preterm infants in 10 national and regional neonatal networks.

METHODS

A cohort study of very preterm infants, born between 24 and 29 weeks' gestation and weighing <1500 g, admitted to participating neonatal units between 2007 and 2013 in the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes of Neonates. Survival was compared by using standardized ratios (SRs) comparing survival in each network to the survival estimate of the whole population.

RESULTS

Network populations differed with respect to rates of cesarean birth, exposure to antenatal steroids and birth in nontertiary hospitals. Network SRs for survival were highest in Japan (SR: 1.10; 99% confidence interval: 1.08-1.13) and lowest in Spain (SR: 0.88; 99% confidence interval: 0.85-0.90). The overall survival differed from 78% to 93% among networks, the difference being highest at 24 weeks' gestation (range 35%-84%). Survival rates increased and differences between networks diminished with increasing gestational age (GA) (range 92%-98% at 29 weeks' gestation); yet, relative differences in survival followed a similar pattern at all GAs. The median age at death varied from 4 days to 13 days across networks.

CONCLUSIONS

The network ranking of survival rates for very preterm infants remained largely unchanged as GA increased; however, survival rates showed marked variations at lower GAs. The median age at death also varied among networks. These findings warrant further assessment of the representativeness of the study populations, organization of perinatal services, national guidelines, philosophy of care at extreme GAs, and resources used for decision-making.

What is the safest mode of birth for extremely preterm breech singleton infants who are actively resuscitated? A systematic review and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

The safest delivery mode of extremely preterm breech singletons is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To determine safest delivery mode of actively resuscitated extremely preterm breech singletons.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and ClinicalTrials.gov from January 1994 to May 2017.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included studies comparing outcomes by delivery mode in actively resuscitated breech infants between 23⁺⁰ and 27⁺⁶ weeks.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We synthesised data using random effects, generated odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and number-needed-to-treat (NNT). Our primary outcomes were death (neonatal, before discharge, or by 6 months) and severe intraventricular haemorrhage (grades III/IV), stratified by gestational age (23⁺⁰ -24⁺⁶ , 25⁺⁰ -26⁺⁶ , 27⁺⁰ -27⁺⁶ weeks).

MAIN RESULTS

We included 15 studies with 12 335 infants. We found that caesarean section was associated with a 41% decrease in odds of death between 23⁺⁰ and 27⁺⁶ weeks [odds ratio (OR) 0.59, 95% CI 0.36-0.95, NNT 8], with the greatest decrease at 23⁺⁰ -24⁺⁶ weeks (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.44-0.75, NNT 7). The OR at 25⁺⁰ -26⁺⁶ and 27⁺⁰ -27⁺⁶ weeks were 0.72 (95% CI 0.34-1.52) and 2.04 (95% CI 0.20-20.62), respectively. We found that caesarean section was associated with 49% decrease in odds of severe intraventricular haemorrhage between 23⁺⁰ and 27⁺⁶ weeks (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.29-0.91, NNT 12), whereas the OR at 25⁺⁰ -26⁺⁶ and 27⁺⁰ -27⁺⁶ was 0.29 (95% CI 0.07-1.12) and 0.91 (95% CI 0.27-3.05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Caesarean section was associated with reductions in the odds of death by 41% and of severe intraventricular haemorrhage by 49% in actively resuscitated breech singletons < 28 weeks of gestation. The data are mostly observational, which may be inherently biased, and scarce on other morbidities, necessitating thorough discussion between parents and clinicians.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Caesarean section associated with lower odds of death and severe intraventricular haemorrhage in actively resuscitated breech singletons <28 weeks.

Admission Systolic Blood Pressure and Outcomes in Preterm Infants of ≤ 26 Weeks' Gestation

Objective To examine the relationship between admission systolic blood pressure (SBP) and adverse neonatal outcomes. Specifically, we aimed to identify the optimal SBP that is associated with the lowest rates of adverse outcomes in extremely preterm infants of ≤ 26 weeks' gestation.

Methods In this retrospective study, inborn neonates born at ≤ 26 weeks' gestational age and admitted to tertiary neonatal units participating in the Canadian Neonatal Network between 2003 and 2009 were included. The primary outcome was early mortality (≤ 7 days). Secondary outcomes included severe brain injury, late mortality, and a composite outcome defined as early mortality or severe brain injury. Nonlinear multivariable logistic regression models examined the relationship between admission SBP and outcomes.

Results Admission SBP demonstrated a U-shaped relationship with early mortality, severe brain injury, and composite outcome after adjustment for confounders (p < 0.01). The lowest risks of early mortality, severe brain injury, and composite outcome occurred at admission SBPs of 51, 55, and 54 mm Hg, respectively.

Conclusion In extremely preterm infants of ≤ 26 weeks' gestational age, the relationship between admission SBP, and early mortality and severe brain injury was “U-shaped.” The optimal admission SBP associated with lowest rates of adverse outcome was between 51 and 55 mm Hg.

Health Services Use by Late Preterm and Term Infants From Infancy to Adulthood: A Meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Late-preterm infants born at 34 to 36 weeks' gestation have increased risks of various health problems. Health service utilization (HSU) of late-preterm infants has not been systematically summarized before.

OBJECTIVES

To summarize the published literature on short- and long-term HSU by late-preterm infants versus term infants from infancy to adulthood after initial discharge from the hospital.

DATA SOURCES

We searched Medline, Embase, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and PsycINFO.

STUDY SELECTION

Cohort and case-control studies that compared HSU (admissions, emergency department visits, etc) between late-preterm infants and term infants were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data extracted included study design, setting, population, HSU, covariates, and effect estimates.

RESULTS

Fifty-two articles were included (50 cohort and 2 case-control studies). Meta-analyses with random effect models that used the inverse-variance method found that late-preterm infants had higher chances of all-cause admissions than term infants during all the time periods. The magnitude of the differences decreased with age from the neonatal period through adolescence, with adjusted odds ratios from 2.34 (95% confidence intervals 1.19-4.61) to 1.09 (1.05-1.13) and adjusted incidence rate ratios from 2.62 (2.52-2.72) to 1.14 (1.11-1.18). Late-preterm infants had higher rates of various cause-specific HSU than term infants for jaundice, infection, respiratory problems, asthma, and neurologic and/or mental health problems during certain periods, including adulthood.

LIMITATIONS

Considerable heterogeneity existed and was partially explained by the variations in the adjustment for multiple births and gestational age ranges of the term infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Late-preterm infants had higher risks for all-cause admissions as well as for various cause-specific HSU during the neonatal period through adolescence.

International variations and trends in the treatment for retinopathy of prematurity

OBJECTIVE

To compare the rates of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and treatment of ROP by laser or intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor among preterm neonates from high-income countries participating in the International Network for Evaluating Outcomes (iNeo) of neonates.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on extremely preterm infants weighing <1500 g at 24⁰ to 27⁶ weeks' gestation who were admitted to neonatal units in Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Israel, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuscany (Italy) and the UK between 2007 and 2013. Pairwise comparisons of ROP treatment in survivors between countries were evaluated by Poisson and multivariable logistic regression analyses after adjustment for confounders. A composite outcome of death or ROP treatment was compared between countries using logistic regression and standardised ratios.

RESULTS

Of 48 087 infants included in the analysis, 81.8% survived to 32 weeks postmenstrual age, and 95% of survivors were screened for ROP. Rates of any ROP ranged from 25.2% to 91.0% in Switzerland and Japan, respectively, among those examined. The overall rate of those receiving treatment was 24.9%, which varied from 4.3% to 30.4%. Adjusted risk ratios for ROP treatment were lower for Switzerland in all pairwise comparisons, whereas Japan displayed significantly higher ratios. Comparisons of the composite outcome between countries revealed similar, but less marked differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of any ROP and ROP treatment varied significantly between iNeo members, while an overall decline in ROP treatment was observed during the study period. It is unclear whether these variations represent differences in care practices, diagnosis and/or treatment thresholds.

Revisiting the Definition of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Effect of Changing Panoply of Respiratory Support for Preterm Neonates

IMPORTANCE

Several definitions of bronchopulmonary dysplasia are clinically used; however, their validity remains uncertain considering ongoing changes in the panoply of respiratory support treatment strategies used within neonatal units.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the optimal definition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia that best predicts respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Retrospective cohort study at tertiary neonatal intensive care units. Preterm infants born at less than 29 weeks' gestation between 2010 and 2011 who were admitted to neonatal intensive care units participating in the Canadian Neonatal Network and completed follow-up assessments in a Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network clinic at 18 to 21 months.

EXPOSURES

Various traditional bronchopulmonary dysplasia criteria based on respiratory status at different postmenstrual ages.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Serious respiratory morbidity, neurosensory impairment at 18 to 21 months of age, and a composite outcome of respiratory or neurosensory morbidity or death after discharge. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% CIs were calculated.

RESULTS

Of 1914 eligible survivors, 1503 were assessed (mean gestational age was 26.3 weeks; 68% were white, 9% were black, and 23% were other race/ethnicity), 88 had serious respiratory morbidity, 257 infants had neurosensory impairment, and 12 infants died after discharge. Definitions using oxygen requirement alone as the criterion at various postmenstrual ages were less predictive compared with those using the criterion of oxygen/respiratory support (RS) (receiving supplemental oxygen and/or positive-pressure RS); among those, oxygen/RS at 36 weeks had the highest AOR and area under the curve (AUC) for all outcomes. Further analyses of oxygen/RS at each week between 34 and 44 weeks' postmenstrual age indicated that the predictive ability for serious respiratory morbidity increased from 34 weeks (AOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 0.9-3.4, AUC, 0.721) to 40 weeks (AOR, 6.1; 95% CI, 3.4-11.0; AUC, 0.799). For serious neurosensory impairment, the AOR and AUC at 40 weeks' PMA (AOR, 1.5, 95% CI, 1.0-2.1; AUC, 0.740) were only marginally below their peak values at 37 weeks' PMA (AOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.6; AUC, 0.743).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Defining bronchopulmonary dysplasia by the use of oxygen alone is inadequate because oxygen/RS is a better indicator of chronic respiratory insufficiency. In particular, oxygen/RS at 40 weeks' PMA was identified as the best predictor for serious respiratory morbidity, while it also displayed a good ability to predict neurosensory morbidity at 18 to 21 months.

Scoping review shows wide variation in the definitions of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants and calls for a consensus

The use of different definitions for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has been an ongoing challenge. We searched papers published in English from 2010 and 2015 reporting BPD as an outcome, together with studies that compared BPD definitions between 1978 and 2015. We found that the incidence of BPD ranged from 6% to 57%, depending on the definition chosen, and that studies that investigated correlations with long-term pulmonary and/or neurosensory outcomes reported moderate-to-low predictive values regardless of the BPD criteria.

CONCLUSION

A comprehensive and evidence-based definition for BPD needs to be developed for benchmarking and prognostic use.

A critical appraisal of chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorders clinical practice guidelines using the AGREE II instrument

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD) suffer high rates of morbidity and mortality, in particular related to bone and cardiovascular outcomes. The management of CKD-MBD remains challenging. The objective of this systematic survey is to critically appraise clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) addressing CKD-MBD.

METHODS/DESIGN

Data sources included MEDLINE, EMBASE, the National Guideline Clearinghouse, Guideline International Network and Turning Research into Practice up to May 2016. Teams of two reviewers, independently and in duplicate, screened titles and abstracts and potentially eligible full text reports to determine eligibility and subsequently appraised the guidelines using the Advancing Guideline Development, Reporting and Evaluation in Health Care instrument II (AGREE).

RESULTS

Sixteen CPGs published from 2003 to 2015 addressing the diagnosis and management of CKD-MBD in adult patients (11 English, two Spanish, one Italian, one Portuguese and one Slovak) proved eligible. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline performed best with respect to AGREE II criteria; only three other CPGs warranted high scores on all domains. All other guidelines received scores of under 60% on one or more domains. Major discrepancies in recommendations were not, however, present, and we found no association between quality of CPGs which was not associated with resulting recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

Most guidelines assessing CKD-MBD suffer from serious shortcomings using AGREE criteria although limitations with respect to AGREE criteria do not necessarily lead to inappropriate recommendations.

Country-Specific vs. Common Birthweight-for-Gestational Age References to Identify Small for Gestational Age Infants Born at 24-28 weeks: An International Study

BACKGROUND

Controversy exists as to whether birthweight-for-gestational age references used to classify infants as small for gestational age (SGA) should be country specific or based on an international (common) standard. We examined whether different birthweight-for-gestational age references affected the association of SGA with adverse outcomes among very preterm neonates.

METHODS

Singleton infants (n = 23 788) of 24(0) -28(6) weeks' gestational age in nine high-resource countries were classified as SGA (<10th centile) using common and country-specific references based on birthweight and estimated fetal weight (EFW). For each reference, the adjusted relative risk (aRR) for the association of SGA with composite outcome of mortality or major morbidity was estimated.

RESULTS

The percentage of infants classified as SGA differed slightly for common compared with country specific for birthweight references [9.9% (95% CI 9.5, 10.2) vs. 11.1% (95% CI 10.7, 11.5)] and for EFW references [28.6% (95% CI 28.0, 29.2) vs. 24.6% (95% CI 24.1, 25.2)]. The association of SGA with the composite outcome was similar when using common or country-specific references for the total sample for birthweight [aRRs 1.47 (95% CI 1.43, 1.51) and 1.48 (95% CI 1.44, 1.53) respectively] and for EFW references [aRRs 1.35 (95% CI 1.31, 1.38) and 1.39 (95% CI 1.35, 1.43) respectively].

CONCLUSION

Small for gestational age is associated with higher mortality and morbidity in infants born <29 weeks' gestational age. Although common and country-specific birthweight/EFW references identified slightly different proportions of SGA infants, the risk of the composite outcome was comparable.

Association of Noninvasive Ventilation Strategies With Mortality and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Among Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Various noninvasive ventilation strategies are used to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) of preterm infants; however, the best mode is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

To compare 7 ventilation strategies for preterm infants including nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) alone, intubation and surfactant administration followed by immediate extubation (INSURE), less invasive surfactant administration (LISA), noninvasive intermittent positive pressure ventilation, nebulized surfactant administration, surfactant administration via laryngeal mask airway, and mechanical ventilation.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL from their inceptions to June 2016.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized clinical trials comparing ventilation strategies for infants younger than 33 weeks' gestational age within 24 hours of birth who had not been intubated.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Data were independently extracted by 2 reviewers and synthesized with Bayesian random-effects network meta-analyses.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

A composite of death or BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age was the primary outcome. Death, BPD, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, and air leak by discharge were the main secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 5598 infants involved in 30 trials, the incidence of the primary outcome was 33% (1665 of 4987; including 505 deaths and 1160 cases of BPD). The secondary outcomes ranged from 6% (314 of 5587) for air leak to 26% (1160 of 4455) for BPD . Compared with mechanical ventilation, LISA had a lower odds of the primary outcome (odds ratio [OR], 0.49; 95% credible interval [CrI], 0.30-0.79; absolute risk difference [RD], 164 fewer per 1000 infants; 57-253 fewer per 1000 infants; moderate quality of evidence), BPD(OR, 0.53; 95% CrI, 0.27-0.96; absolute RD, 133 fewer per 1000 infants; 95% CrI, 9-234 fewer per 1000 infants; moderate-quality), and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (OR, 0.44; 95% CrI, 0.19-0.99; absolute RD, 58 fewer per 1000 births; 95% CrI, 1-86 fewer per 1000 births; moderate-quality). Compared with nasal CPAP alone, LISA had a lower odds of the primary outcome (OR, 0.58; 95% CrI, 0.35-0.93; absolute RD, 112 fewer per 1000 births; 95% CrI, 16-190 fewer per 1000 births; moderate quality), and air leak (OR, 0.24; 95% CrI, 0.05-0.96; absolute RD, 47 fewer per 1000 births; 95% CrI, 2-59 fewer per 1000 births; very low quality). Ranking probabilities indicated that LISA was the best strategy with a surface under the cumulative ranking curve of 0.85 to 0.94, but this finding was not robust for death when limited to higher-quality evidence.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among preterm infants, the use of LISA was associated with the lowest likelihood of the composite outcome of death or BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. These findings were limited by the overall low quality of evidence and lack of robustness in higher-quality trials.

Mortality outcomes in patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are widely used as an alternative for warfarin. However, the impact of DOACs on mortality outcomes compared with warfarin remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the mortality outcomes in patients treated with DOACs vs. warfarin (or another vitamin K antagonist).

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL databases (inception to September 2014), conference abstracts and www.clinicaltrials.gov, were searched, without language restriction. Studies were selected if there were phase III, randomized trials comparing DOACs with warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism.

RESULTS

Thirteen randomized controlled trials involving 102 707 adult patients were included in the analysis. The case-fatality rate of major bleeding was 7.57% (95% CI, 6.53-8.68; I(2) = 0%) in patients taking DOACs and 11.04% (95% CI, 9.16-13.07; I(2) = 33.3%) in patients taking warfarin. The rate of fatal bleeding in adult patients receiving DOACs was 0.16 per 100 patient-years (95% CI, 0.12-0.20; I(2) = 36.5%). When compared with warfarin, DOACs were associated with significant reductions in fatal bleeding (RR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.43-0.64; I(2) = 0%), cardiovascular mortality (RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.82-0.94; I(2) = 0%) and all-cause mortality (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.96; I(2) = 0%).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of DOACs compared with warfarin is associated with a lower rate of fatal bleeding, case-fatality rate of major bleeding, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality.

Adverse Impact of Maternal Cigarette Smoking on Preterm Infants: A Population-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to examine the impact of exposure to maternal cigarette smoking on neonatal outcomes of very preterm infants.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study examined preterm infants (<33 weeks gestational age) admitted to the Canadian Neonatal Network centers between 2003 and 2011. Mortality and major morbidities (bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and retinopathy) were compared between infants exposed and unexposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy after adjusting for confounders.

RESULTS

Among 29,051 study infants, 4,053 (14%) were exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Multivariable analysis revealed higher odds of grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.41) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (adjusted OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02-1.33) in the smoking group, while mortality, severe retinopathy, and necrotizing enterocolitis were not significantly different.

CONCLUSION

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with severe neurological injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants.

Patent ductus arteriosus management and outcomes in Japan and Canada: comparison of proactive and selective approaches

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to compare patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) management strategies and outcomes between the Neonatal Research Network of Japan (NRNJ) with proactive functional echocardiography and the Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN) with selective conventional echocardiography practice.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analyses examined very low-birth-weight infants admitted to the NRNJ or CNN in 2006 to 2008. Multivariable logistic regression analyses compared a composite outcome indicating a mortality or major morbidity (severe intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, severe retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or necrotizing enterocolitis) between networks, according to PDA diagnosis and treatment, and tested the association between PDA treatment and the composite outcome within networks.

RESULTS

PDA treatment (NRNJ:CNN) with conservative management (8%:16%), indomethacin only (77%:59%), ligation only (1%:13%), or indomethacin and ligation (14%:13%) varied significantly between networks. The composite outcome was lower in NRNJ versus CNN only among infants with PDA (odds ratio: 0.70; 95% confidence interval: 0.62-0.80). Surgical ligation was associated with higher composite outcome only in CNN (odds ratio: 1.79; 95% confidence interval: 1.40-2.28).

CONCLUSION

Lower composite mortality/morbidity outcome in Japan versus Canada only among infants with PDA, and association of surgical ligation with higher mortality/morbidity only in Canada, suggest differential PDA management and ligation processes contribute to outcome variation.

Noninvasive Ventilation With vs Without Early Surfactant to Prevent Chronic Lung Disease in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Controversy exists regarding which of the 2 major strategies currently used to prevent chronic lung disease (CLD) in preterm infants is optimal: noninvasive continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) or intubate-surfactant-extubate (INSURE). Preterm infants often require surfactant administration because of respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether early INSURE or NCPAP alone is more effective in preventing CLD, death, or both.

DATA SOURCES

We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases from their inception to January 2, 2015, along with conference proceedings and trial registrations.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized clinical trials that compared early INSURE with NCPAP alone in preterm infants who had never been intubated before the study entry were selected. Among 1761 initially identified articles, 9 trials (1551 infants) were included.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Duplicate study selection and data extraction were performed. Meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models with quality-of-evidence assessment according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Seven main outcomes were selected a priori to be assessed according to GRADE, including a composite outcome of CLD and/or death, CLD alone, death alone, air leakage, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, neurodevelopmental impairment, and a composite outcome of death and/or neurodevelopmental impairment.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between early INSURE and NCPAP alone for all outcomes assessed. However, the relative risk (RR) estimates appeared to favor early INSURE over NCPAP alone, with a 12% RR reduction in CLD and/or death (RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.76-1.02; risk difference [RD], -0.04; 95% CI, -0.08 to 0.01; moderate quality of evidence), a 14% decrease in CLD (RR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.71-1.03; RD, -0.03; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.01; moderate quality of evidence), and a 50% decrease in air leakage (RR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.24-1.07; RD, -0.03; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.00; very low quality of evidence). The sample size was less than the optimal information size.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Currently, no evidence suggests that either early INSURE or NCPAP alone is superior to the other. INSURE does not appear to increase CLD and/or death, CLD alone, and air leakage and may reduce these adverse outcomes compared with NCPAP alone. Further adequately powered trials are required.

The effect of professional-led guideline workshops on clinical practice for the management of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates in Japan: a controlled before-and-after study

Background

Clinical guidelines assist physicians to make decisions about suitable healthcare. We conducted a controlled before-and-after study to investigate the impact of professional-led guideline workshops for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) management on physicians’ clinical practices, discharge mortality, and associated morbid conditions among preterm neonates.

Methods

We recruited physicians practicing at two neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Japan and used the data of all neonates weighing less than or equal to 1,500 g admitted to 90 NICUs (2 intervention NICUs and 88 control NICUs) in the Neonatal Research Network of Japan from April 2008 to March 2010. We held 1-day workshops for physicians on PDA clinical practice guidelines at the two intervention NICUs. Physicians’ skills assessed by confidence rating (CR) scores and the Sheffield Peer Review Assessment Tool (SPRAT) were compared between pre- and post-workshop month at the intervention NICUs using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Neonatal discharge mortality and morbidity were compared between pre- and post-workshop year at both the intervention and control NICUs using multivariable regression analyses adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Fifteen physicians were included in the study. Physicians’ CR scores (2.14 vs. 2.47, p = 0.02) and SPRAT (4.14 vs. 4.50, p = 0.05) in PDA management improved after the workshops. The analyses of neonatal outcomes included 294 and 6,234 neonates in the intervention and control NICUs, respectively. Neonates’ discharge mortality declined sharply at the intervention NICUs (from 15/146 to 5/148, relative risk reduction −0.67; adjusted odds ratio 0.30, 95% confidence interval 0.10 to 0.89) during the post-workshop period. The mortality reduction was much greater than that in the control NICUs (from 207/3,322 to 147/2,912, relative risk reduction −0.19; adjusted odds ratio 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.59 to 0.95), although the difference between the intervention and control NICUs were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Overall, physicians’ confidence in PDA management improved after attending guideline workshops. Face-to-face workshops by guideline developers can be a useful strategy to improve physicians’ PDA management skills and, thereby, might reduce PDA-associated mortality in preterm neonates.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13012-015-0258-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.