The effect of instituting a prehospital-discharge newborn bilirubin screening program in an 18-hospital health system

Transcutaneous bilirubinometry for detecting jaundice in term or late preterm neonates

BACKGROUND

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Paediatric Society both advise that all newborns should undergo bilirubin screening before leaving the hospital, and this has become the standard practice in both countries. However, the US Preventive Task Force has found no strong evidence to suggest that this practice of universal screening for bilirubin reduces the occurrence of significant outcomes such as bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction or kernicterus.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous screening compared to visual inspection for hyperbilirubinemia to prevent the readmission of newborns (infants greater than 35 weeks' gestation) for phototherapy.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, ICTRP, and ISRCTN in June 2023. We also searched conference proceedings, and the reference lists of included studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-randomized, cluster-randomized, or prospective cohort studies with control arm that evaluated the use of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) screening for hyperbilirubinemia in newborns before hospital discharge.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodologic procedures expected by Cochrane. We evaluated treatment effects using a fixed-effect model with risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for categorical data and mean, standard deviation (SD), and mean difference (MD) for continuous data. We used the GRADE approach to evaluate the certainty of evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified one RCT (1858 participants) that met our inclusion criteria. The study included 1858 African newborns at 35 weeks' gestation or greater who were receiving routine care at a well-baby nursery, and were randomly recruited prior to discharge to undergo TcB screening. The study had good methodologic quality. TcB screening versus visual assessment of hyperbilirubinemia in newborns: - may reduce readmission to the hospital for hyperbilirubinemia (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.46; P < 0.0001; moderate-certainty evidence); - probably has little or no effect on the rate of exchange transfusion (RR 0.20, 95% CI 0.01 to 14.16; low-certainty evidence); - may increase the number of newborns who require phototherapy prior to discharge (RR 2.67, 95% CI 1.56 to 4.55; moderate-certainty evidence). - probably has little or no effect on the rate of acute bilirubin encephalopathy (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.01 to 8.18; low-certainty evidence). The study did not evaluate or report cost of care.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that TcB screening may reduce readmission for hyperbilirubinemia compared to visual inspection. Low-certainty evidence also suggests that TcB screening probably has little or no effect on the rate of exchange transfusion compared to visual inspection. However, moderate-certainty evidence suggests that TcB screening may increase the number of newborns that require phototherapy before discharge compared to visual inspection. Low-certainty evidence suggests that TcB screening probably has little or no effect on the rate of acute bilirubin encephalopathy compared to visual inspection. Given that we have only identified one RCT, further studies are necessary to determine whether TcB screening can help to reduce readmission and complications related to neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In settings with limited newborn follow-up after hospital discharge, identifying newborns at risk of severe hyperbilirubinemia before hospital discharge will be important to plan targeted follow-up of these infants.

Bilirubin Measurement and Phototherapy Use After the AAP 2022 Newborn Hyperbilirubinemia Guideline

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Guidelines for the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia have helped to reduce rates of significant hyperbilirubinemia. However, recent evidence suggesting overtreatment and potential harms of phototherapy have informed the American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guideline revision and the accompanying increase in phototherapy thresholds. These changes are predicted to safely reduce overuse; however, to date, the exact effect of these guidelines has not been established.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of newborns born at ≥35 weeks' gestation across a network of 8 hospitals between January 2022 and June 2023. Outcomes included rates of phototherapy and total serum bilirubin (TSB) measurements before and after guideline publication, as well as clinical outcomes, including length of stay, readmissions, and duration of phototherapy.

RESULTS

In our cohort of >22 000 newborns, we observed a 47% decrease in phototherapy utilization, from 3.9% to 2.1% (P < .001). TSB measurements were reduced by 23%, from 712 to 551 measurements per 1000 newborns (P < .001), without an increase in outpatient TSB measurements. We did not observe an increase in readmissions receiving phototherapy, and length of stay increased by only 1 hour (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals that the publication of the updated American Academy of Pediatrics 2022 hyperbilirubinemia guidelines has likely yielded a significant reduction in phototherapy use and serum bilirubin measurement. Dedicated quality improvement initiatives may help determine which implementation strategies are most effective. Further population-level studies are needed to confirm safety with ongoing guideline uptake.

A review of existing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia guidelines in Indonesia

Background

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common conditions for neonate inpatients. Indonesia faces a major challenge in which different guidelines regarding the management of this condition were present. This study aimed to compare the existing guidelines regarding prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring in order to create the best recommendation for a new hyperbilirubinemia guideline in Indonesia.

Methods

Through an earlier survey regarding adherence to the neonatal hyperbilirubinemia guideline, we identified that three main guidelines are being used in Indonesia. These were developed by the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IPS), the Ministry of Health (MoH), and World Health Organization (WHO). In this study, we compared factors such as prevention, monitoring, methods for identifying, risk factors in the development of neonatal jaundice, risk factors that increase brain damage, and intervention treatment threshold in the existing guidelines to determine the best recommendations for a new guideline.

Results

The MoH and WHO guidelines allow screening and treatment of hyperbilirubinemia based on visual examination (VE) only. Compared with the MoH and WHO guidelines, risk assessment is comprehensively discussed in the IPS guideline. The MoH guideline recommends further examination of an icteric baby to ensure that the mother has enough milk without measuring the bilirubin level. The MoH guideline recommends referring the baby when it looks yellow on the soles and palms. The WHO and IPS guidelines recommend combining VE with an objective measurement of transcutaneous or serum bilirubin. The threshold to begin phototherapy in the WHO guideline is lower than the IPS guideline while the exchange transfusion threshold in both guidelines are comparably equal.

Conclusions

The MoH guideline is outdated. MoH and IPS guidelines are causing differences in approaches to the management hyperbilirubinemia. A new, uniform guideline is required.

Predicting the risk of 7-day readmission in late preterm infants in California: A population-based cohort study

Background and aims

The American Academy of Pediatrics describes late preterm infants, born at 34 to 36 completed weeks' gestation, as at-risk for rehospitalization and severe morbidity as compared to term infants. While there are prediction models that focus on specific morbidities, there is limited research on risk prediction for early readmission in late preterm infants. The aim of this study is to derive and validate a model to predict 7-day readmission.

Methods

This is a population-based retrospective cohort study of liveborn infants in California between January 2007 to December 2011. Birth certificates, maintained by California Vital Statistics, were linked to a hospital discharge, emergency department, and ambulatory surgery records maintained by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Random forest and logistic regression were used to identify maternal and infant variables of importance, test for association, and develop and validate a predictive model. The predictive model was evaluated for discrimination and calibration.

Results

We restricted the sample to healthy late preterm infants (n = 122,014), of which 4.1% were readmitted to hospital within 7-day after birth discharge. The random forest model with 24 variables had better predictive ability than the 8 variable logistic model with c-statistic of 0.644 (95% confidence interval 0.629, 0.659) in the validation data set and Brier score of 0.0408. The eight predictors of importance length of stay, delivery method, parity, gestational age, birthweight, race/ethnicity, phototherapy at birth hospitalization, and pre-existing or gestational diabetes were used to drive individual risk scores. The risk stratification had the ability to identify an estimated 19% of infants at greatest risk of readmission.

Conclusions

Our 7-day readmission predictive model had moderate performance in differentiating at risk late preterm infants. Future studies might benefit from inclusion of more variables and focus on hospital practices that minimize risk.

Universal screening for hyperbilirubinemia in term healthy newborns at discharge: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

All term healthy neonates are screened for jaundice before hospital discharge as a standard clinical practice, but methods vary from clinical screening (visual inspection and/or risk factor assessment) to transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) or total serum bilirubin (TSB) testing, depending on the setting.

Methods

This systematic review of randomized and non-randomized studies evaluated the effectiveness of universal TcB and universal TSB screening at discharge compared to clinical screening alone for term healthy neonates. The outcomes were neonatal mortality, readmission for jaundice, severe hyperbilirubinemia (>20 mg/dL), jaundice requiring exchange transfusion, and bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND). We searched MEDLINE via Ovid, EBM reviews, Embase, CINAHL, clinical trials databases, and reference lists of retrieved articles. Two authors separately evaluated the risk of bias, extracted data, and synthesized effect estimates using relative risk (RR) for randomized and odds ratio (OR) for non-randomized studies.

Results

For universal TcB at discharge, we included one randomized trial enrolling 1858 participants and four non-randomized studies enrolling 375 956 participants. No study reported neonatal mortality. The randomized trial suggested that universal TcB at discharge may decrease readmission for jaundice (risk ratio (RR) = 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.13 to 0.46; low certainty evidence) and severe hyperbilirubinemia (RR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.97; low certainty evidence), but the effect on jaundice requiring exchange transfusion (RR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.01 to 41.6) and BIND (RR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.01 to 8.17) was uncertain. Meta-analysis of non-randomized studies suggested that TcB may decrease severe hyperbilirubinemia (odds ratio (OR) = 0.25, 95% = CI 0.12 to 0.52; low certainty evidence) and jaundice requiring exchange transfusion (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.19 to 0.42; low certainty evidence), but the effect on readmission for jaundice was uncertain (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.38 to 2.7; very low certainty evidence). For universal TSB, we included three studies from the United States enrolling 490 426 participants. The effect on severe hyperbilirubinemia (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.15 to 0.88), jaundice requiring exchange transfusion (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.13 to 2.25) and readmission for jaundice (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.62 to 1.67) was uncertain.

Conclusions

Universal TcB at discharge may improve clinical outcomes for term healthy neonates. Evidence for universal TSB is uncertain.

Registration

PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020187279.

Better assessment of neonatal jaundice at home (BEAT Jaundice @home): protocol for a prospective, multicentre diagnostic study

INTRODUCTION

Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia can place a neonate at risk for acute bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus spectrum disorder. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent these deleterious sequelae. Currently, screening by visual inspection followed by laboratory-based bilirubin (LBB) quantification is used to identify hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates cared for at home in the Netherlands. However, the reliability of visual inspection is limited. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of universal transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) screening as compared with visual inspection to: (1) increase the detection of hyperbilirubinaemia necessitating treatment, and (2) reduce the need for heel pricks to quantify bilirubin levels. In parallel, we will evaluate a smartphone app (Picterus), and a point-of-care device for quantifying total bilirubin (Bilistick) as compared with LBB.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will undertake a multicentre prospective cohort study in nine midwifery practices across the Netherlands. Neonates born at a gestational age of 35 weeks or more are eligible if they: (1) are at home at any time between days 2 and 8 of life; (2) have their first midwife visit prior to postnatal day 6 and (3) did not previously receive phototherapy. TcB and the Picterus app will be used after visual inspection. When LBB is deemed necessary based on visual inspection and/or TcB reading, Bilistick will be used in parallel. The coprimary endpoints of the study are: (1) hyperbilirubinaemia necessitating treatment; (2) the number of heel pricks performed to quantify LBB. We aim to include 2310 neonates in a 2-year period. Using a decision tree model, a cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has been approved by the Medical Research Ethical Committee of the Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Netherlands (MEC-2020-0618). Parents will provide written informed consent. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Dutch Trial Register (NL9545).

Assessment, management, and incidence of neonatal jaundice in healthy neonates cared for in primary care: a prospective cohort study

Jaundice caused by hyperbilirubinaemia is a common phenomenon during the neonatal period. Population-based studies evaluating assessment, management, and incidence of jaundice and need for phototherapy among otherwise healthy neonates are scarce. We prospectively explored these aspects in a primary care setting via assessing care as usual during the control phase of a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.We conducted a prospective cohort study embedded in the Screening and TreAtment to Reduce Severe Hyperbilirubinaemia in Infants in Primary care (STARSHIP) Trial. Healthy neonates were included in seven primary care birth centres (PCBCs) in the Netherlands between July 2018 and March 2020. Neonates were eligible for inclusion if their gestational age was ≥ 35 weeks, they were admitted in a PCBC for at least  2 days during the first week of life, and if they did not previously receive phototherapy. Outcomes were the findings of visual assessment to detect jaundice, jaundice incidence and management, and the need for phototherapy treatment in the primary care setting.860 neonates were included of whom 608 (71.9%) were visibly jaundiced at some point during admission in the PCBC, with 20 being 'very yellow'. Of the latter, four (20%) did not receive total serum bilirubin (TSB) quantification. TSB levels were not associated with the degree of visible jaundice (p = 0.416). Thirty-one neonates (3.6%) received phototherapy and none received an exchange transfusion. Five neonates did not receive phototherapy despite having a TSB level above phototherapy threshold.Jaundice is common in otherwise healthy neonates cared for in primary care. TSB quantification was not always performed in very jaundiced neonates, and not all neonates received phototherapy when indicated. Quality improvement initiatives are required, including alternative approaches to identifying potentially severe hyperbilirubinaemia.Trial registration: NL6997 (Dutch Trial Register; Old NTR ID 7187), registered 3 May 2018.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Reasons for 30-Day Hospital Readmission Among Healthy Late Preterm Infants

OBJECTIVE

Late preterm infants have an increased risk of morbidity relative to term infants. We sought to determine the rate, temporal trend, risk factors, and reasons for 30-day readmission.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of infants born at 34 to 42 weeks' gestation in California between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2017. Birth certificates maintained by California Vital Statistics were linked to discharge records maintained by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors and derive a predictive model.

RESULTS

Late preterm infants represented 4.3% (n = 122 014) of the study cohort (n = 2 824 963), of which 5.9% (n = 7243) were readmitted within 30 days. Compared to term infants, late preterm infants had greater odds of readmission (odds ratio [OR]: 2.34 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.28-2.40]). The temporal trend indicated increases in all-cause and jaundice-specific readmission infants (P < .001). The common diagnoses at readmission were jaundice (58.9%), infections (10.8%), and respiratory complications (3.5%). In the adjusted model, factors that were associated with greater odds of readmission included assisted vaginal birth, maternal age ≥34 years, diabetes, chorioamnionitis, and primiparity. The model had predictive ability of 60% (c-statistic 0.603 [95% CI: 0.596-0.610]) in late preterm infants who had <5 days length of stay at birth.

CONCLUSION

The findings contribute important information on what factors increase or decrease the risk of readmission. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine promising hospital predischarge and follow-up care practices.

Trends and Resource Use for Kernicterus Hospitalizations in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the trends in hospitalization for kernicterus in the United States from 2006 through 2016.

METHOD

Repeated, cross-sectional analysis of the 2006 to 2016 editions of the Kids' Inpatient Database. All neonatal hospitalizations with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth or Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification code for kernicterus and admitted at age ≤28 days were included.

RESULTS

Among 16 094 653 neonatal hospitalizations from 2006 to 2016, 20.5% were diagnosed with jaundice with overall incidence of kernicterus 0.5 per 100 000. The rate of kernicterus (per 100 000) was higher among males (0.59), Asian or Pacific Islanders (1.04), and urban teaching hospitals (0.72). Between 2006 and 2016, the incidence of kernicterus decreased from 0.7 to 0.2 per 100 000 (P-trend = .03). The overall median length of stay for kernicterus was 5 days (interquartile range [IQR], 3-8 days). The overall median inflation-adjusted cost of hospitalization was $5470 (IQR, $1609-$19 989).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the incidence of kernicterus decreased between 2006 and 2016, its continued occurrence at a higher rate among Asian or Pacific Islander and Black race or ethnicity in the United States require further probing. Multipronged approach including designating kernicterus as a reportable event, strengthening newborn hyperbilirubinemia care practices and bilirubin surveillance, parental empowerment, and removing barriers to care can potentially decrease the rate of kernicterus further.

Trends and Resource Utilization for Neonatal Jaundice Hospitalizations in the United States

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the trends in hospitalization for neonatal jaundice and its management with phototherapy and exchange transfusion in the United States from 2006 through 2016.

METHODS

Repeated, cross-sectional analysis of the 2006 to 2016 editions of the Kids' Inpatient Database. All neonatal hospitalizations with an International Classification of Diseases, 9th or 10th Revision, Clinical Modification code for jaundice and admitted at age ≤28 days were included. The outcome measures were changes in the diagnosis of jaundice (expressed as a proportion) and its management over the years.

RESULTS

Among 16 094 653 neonatal hospitalizations from 2006 to 2016, 20.5% were diagnosed with jaundice. While the incidence of jaundice remained stable over the years, 20.9% to 20.5% (P = .1), the proportion with jaundice who received phototherapy increased from 22.5% to 27.0% (P < .0001) between 2006 and 2016. There was no significant change in the exchange transfusion rate per year among neonatal hospitalizations with jaundice.

CONCLUSIONS

While the proportion of newborns with jaundice remained stable between 2006 and 2016, the use of phototherapy significantly increased with no significant change in exchange transfusion rate. The impact of these changes on the prevention of acute bilirubin encephalopathy needs further examination in future studies.

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and the role of unbound bilirubin

BACKGROUND

Neonatal jaundice occurs in more than 80% of newborn infants. Although mild jaundice is physiologic and possibly neuroprotective, severe hyperbilirubinemia can lead to neurologic dysfunction and death. Hyperbilirubinemia is due to an imbalance between bilirubin production and the developing excretory capacity in the first days of life. Management utilizes total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels, although recent advances suggest a role for unbound bilirubin.

GOALS

The goal of this review is to examine bilirubin biology, toxicology, and clinical effects, discuss preventive and therapeutic measures, describe neurodevelopmental consequences, and propose that, with the advent of new technology, unbound bilirubin is the optimal measurement for the management.

METHODS

Comprehensive review on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

RESULTS

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia can be prevented by tin mesoporphyrin to limit heme oxygenase activity, a key enzyme in bilirubin production, or restricting bilirubin's absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment modalities include removing bilirubin from the body by exchange transfusion, binding to immunoglobulin, or converting it to a water-soluble isomer with phototherapy. While these approaches have evolved during the past decades, the diagnosis, intervention indications, and prognosis have consistently relied on TSB concentration despite its poor ability to predict an outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Total serum bilirubin is inadequate to optimize care of the term and preterm infant with hyperbilirubinemia. A rapid, accurate, and more effective indicator of bilirubin neurotoxicity is needed to manage jaundiced infants and for the universal screening of newborn infants. Future measurements of free bilirubin unattached to albumin will improve the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Trends in hospitalizations of newborns with hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus in United States: an epidemiological study

BACKGROUND

Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common diagnosis in newborn nurseries in United States. Universal pre-discharge bilirubin screening decreased the incidence of extreme hyperbilirubinemia and risk of kernicterus.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to assess temporal population trends of hyperbilirubinemia, kernicterus and usage of phototherapy, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and exchange transfusion.

DESIGN/METHODS

Data from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)-the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) obtained for years 1997-2012. All neonatal discharges with ICD-9 codes for neonatal jaundice (774.2, 774.6), kernicterus (773.4, 774.7) and procedure codes for phototherapy (99.83), IVIG infusion (99.14), exchange transfusion (99.01) were extracted. We compared the trends of diagnosis of hyperbilirubinemia, kernicterus, use of phototherapy, IVIG, and exchange transfusion.

RESULTS

During the study period, the proportion of infants diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia increased by 65% (9.4% vs. 15.5%; p<.001) in term infants and 34.5% (33.5% vs. 45%; p<.001) in preterm infants, respectively. Rate of kernicterus discharges significantly reduced from 7 to 1.9 per 100,000 newborns. Overall, the number of exchange transfusions has decreased by 67% during study period while phototherapy and IVIG use increased by 83% and 170%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In last two decades, there was a significant decrease in neonatal discharges with a history of exchange transfusion or with a diagnosis of kernicterus. However, there was a significant increase in number of neonates discharged home with a history of phototherapy during birth hospitalization and decreased number of exchange transfusions were observed during the study period. Incremental implementation of universal predischarge bilirubin screening and treatments based on 2004 AAP recommended risk-based strategies might have contributed to timely interventions in infants with significant hyperbilirubinemia.

A New Hour-Specific Serum Bilirubin Nomogram for Neonates ≥35 Weeks of Gestation

OBJECTIVE

To develop a statistically rigorous, hour-specific bilirubin nomogram for newborns based on a very large data set; and use it prospectively as a replacement for the 1999 Bhutani nomogram.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective analysis of first total serum bilirubin (TSB) measurements from 15 years of universal bilirubin screening during birth hospitalizations at 20 Intermountain Healthcare hospitals. Hour-specific TSB values were assembled into a nomogram by percentile, and subgroups were compared.

RESULTS

The information obtained included robust data in the first 12 hours after birth (which was not included in the 1999 nomogram), general agreement with the 1999 nomogram for values in the first 60 hours, but higher 75th and 95th percentile TSB values thereafter in the new version, no difference in TSB between male and female infants, higher TSB values among earlier gestation neonates (35^0/7-36^6/7 weeks vs ≥37 weeks, P < .0001), and lower TSB values in neonates of Black race (P < .0001) and higher values in neonates of Asian race (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

An updated and more informative Bhutani neonatal bilirubin nomogram, based on 140 times the number of subjects included the 1999 version, is now in place in our health care system.

Hyperbilirubinemia in the Term Infant: Re-evaluating What We Think We Know

This article attempts to highlight contemporary issues relating to term neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and to focus attention on controversial issues and concepts with the potential to effect change in clinical approach. On the one hand, the focus is bilirubin neurotoxicity, which is now known to encompass a wide, diverse spectrum of features. The various aspects of this spectrum are outlined and defined. On the other hand, bilirubin also possesses antioxidant properties. As such, mild hyperbilirubinemia is suggested as actually offering the neonate some protective advantage.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Transcutaneous Bilirubin Measurement and Total Serum Bilirubin in Neonatal Patients Followed for Jaundice

Objectives:

Jaundice is a physiological condition caused by hyperbilirubinemia, which is common in neonatal period. However, severe hyperbilirubinemia can cause kernicterus, which is a serious condition that leads to neurological problems. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether it is safe to use transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) instead of blood for the evaluation of jaundice by comparing TcB measurement with standard total serum bilirubin (TSB) measurement values.

Methods:

A total of 105 term and early term infants with gestational ages between 37 and 42 weeks were included in the study. MBJ20 TcB measuring device was used for TcB measurement. TcB was measured from the forehead and sternum. To evaluate the relationship between TcB measurements and TSB measurements, we performed Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, linear regression analysis, and Bland-Altman analysis in which we evaluated the scatter plot of the differences between the average values of the measurements.

Results:

There was a positive and statistically significant correlation between TcB forehead and TSB measurements and TcB sternum and TSB measurements (p<0.001). Linear regression analysis showed a positive directional correlation between TcB forehead and TSB measurements (R²=0.85) and TcB sternum and TSB measurements (R²=0.87). Bland-Altman analysis showed a good consistency between TSB and TcB forehead measurement methods (mean difference: 0.39±1.46, 95% CI: [−2.47]–[3.26]), and between TSB and TcB sternum measurement methods (mean difference: 0.49±1.32 95% CI: [−2.1]–[3.07]).

Conclusion:

As a result of our study, we found that TcB measurement can be reliable instead of taking blood for jaundice evaluation.

Economic evaluation of point of care universal newborn screening for glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in United States

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is frequent inherited enzymopathy that poses potentially preventable risk for extreme hyperbilirubinemia (EHB) which can, rarely, lead to acute bilirubin encephalopathy, childhood kernicterus and death. We aimed to estimate quality adjusted life years (QALY) lost due to G6PD deficiency associated with EHB and economic costs to best estimate value of universal pre-discharge screening.

METHODS

We did a cost utility analysis for US birth cohort utilizing pre-discharge screening decision tree model to estimate population burden and EHB outcomes, based on literature search and expert opinions. Employing human capital approach, we measured health benefits in terms of QALYs and economic losses. QALYs and costs were discounted at 3%; one-way sensitivity analysis was used for decision variables.

RESULTS

We determined for USA live births of 3.86 million in 2017, 1464 cases of EHB were estimated to be due to G6PD deficiency (CI 95%; range: 1270-1656) and contributed 2 deaths (CI 95%; range 1.3-3.2) and 14 (CI 95%; range: 9.1-21.5) cases of kernicterus. Over lifetime horizon, the model predicted undiscounted and discounted gains of 165 (102-252) life years; 241 (183-433) QALYs and 16 (9.9-24.5) life years; 89 (67.9-160.5) QALYs, respectively. Assuming 50% effectiveness, benefit cost ratios ranged from 0.19 to 3.42 for diverse operational settings. The cost to prevent a single case of kernicterus was $2.7 to 6.8 million per annum with cost per QALY gained at $35,946 to $89,159.

CONCLUSION

At incremental cost-effective threshold of $100,000/life year, pre-discharge screening would be expected to prove cost effective in preventing EHB related morbidities and mortality attributed to G6PD deficiency.

Decision Accuracy and Safety of Transcutaneous Bilirubin Screening at Intermountain Healthcare

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the risk that transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) screening would fail to recommend phototherapy for a neonate who would have qualified for it if total serum bilirubin (TSB) screening were used.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a quality improvement project where simultaneous TcB and TSB were obtained on neonates ≥35 weeks of gestation during birth hospitalizations in our hospital system. Using our Utah bilirubin management algorithm, we quantified the risk that TcB screening would fail to identify the need for a confirmatory TSB when TSB screening alone would have revealed that phototherapy was indicated.

RESULTS

In 3 hospitals, we obtained 727 paired TcB/TSB measurements. Two instances utilized a blood gas radiometer for TSB, and 725 utilized the clinical laboratory-based TSB method. One of the 727 instances had a TcB indicating NO PHOTOTHERAPY, when the simultaneous TSB indicated PHOTOTHERAPY NEEDED. The TSB from that instance was 1 of the 2 from the blood gas radiometer. We estimate the risk of such an error occurring is 1.4 per 1000 TcB measurements (95% CI 0.03-7.6 per 1000). When only the laboratory TSB is used, we estimate the risk of such an error occurring to be 0 per 1000 TcB measurements (95% CI 0.0-5.1 per 1000).

CONCLUSIONS

Using TcB for screening at the birth hospital can identify those qualifying for phototherapy, using the Utah guidelines, with 1 of 727 neonates with a blood gas bilirubin and none of 725 with a laboratory-based analysis misidentified as not needing phototherapy when by TSB they did.

Genetic Factors and Delayed TSB Monitoring and Treatment as Risk Factors Associated with Severe Hyperbilirubinemia in Term Neonates Admitted for Phototherapy

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine whether maternal-fetal blood group isoimmunization, breastfeeding, birth trauma, age when first total serum bilirubin (TSB) was measured, age of admission, and genetic predispositions to hemolysis [due to genetic variants of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme], and reduced hepatic uptake and/or conjugation of serum bilirubin [due to genetic variants of solute carrier organic anion transporter protein family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1) and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1 (UGT1A1)] were significant risk factors associated with severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (SNH, TSB ≥ 342µmol/l) in jaundiced term neonates admitted for phototherapy.

METHODS

The inclusion criteria were normal term neonates (gestation ≥ 37 weeks). Parents/care-givers were interviewed to obtain data on demography, clinical problems, feeding practice and age when first TSB was measured. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used to detect common G6PD, UGT1A1 and SLCO1B1 variants on each neonate's dry blood specimens.

RESULTS

Of 1121 jaundiced neonates recruited, 232 had SNH. Logistic regression analysis showed that age (in days) when first TSB was measured [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.395; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.094-1.779], age (in days) of admission (aOR = 1.127; 95% CI 1.007-1.260) and genetic mutant UGT1A1 promoter A(TA)7TAA (aOR = 4.900; 95% CI 3.103-7.739), UGT1A1 c.686C>A (aOR = 6.095; 95% CI 1.549-23.985), SLCO1B1 c.388G>A (aOR = 1.807; 95% CI 1.242-2.629) and G6PD variants and/or abnormal G6PD screening test (aOR = 2.077; 95% CI 1.025-4.209) were significantly associated with SNH.

CONCLUSION

Genetic predisposition, and delayed measuring first TSB and commencing phototherapy increased risk of SNH.

Early Hyperbilirubinemia in Neonates with Down Syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To compare total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels, phototherapy usage, and hospital readmission for jaundice among neonates with Down syndrome vs controls.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study using 15 years of multihospital data. We created control reference intervals (5th, median, and 95th percentiles) for initial TSB values hourly during the first days after birth, and determined the proportion of neonates with Down syndrome whose TSB exceeded the 95th percentile control interval. We determined the proportion with an initial TSB exceeding the upper control reference interval, the highest TSB recorded, the percentage of neonates receiving phototherapy, and the rate of hospital readmission for jaundice treatment.

RESULTS

We compared 357 neonates with Down syndrome with 377 368 controls. Compared with controls, those with Down syndrome had 4.7 times the risk (95% CI, 3.9-5.7; P < .0001) of an initial TSB exceeding the 95th percentile control interval (23.5% vs 5.0%), 8.9 times (95% CI, 8.1-9.8; P < .0001) the phototherapy usage (62.2% vs 7.0%), and 3.6 times (95% CI, 1.6-8.2; P = .0075) the readmission rate for jaundice (17.4 vs 4.8 per 1000 live births).

CONCLUSIONS

Neonates with Down syndrome have a substantial risk of early hyperbilirubinemia. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently advises obtaining an early screening complete blood count from neonates with Down syndrome. We submit that assessing their TSB is also advisable.

Extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus spectrum disorder in Denmark during the years 2000-2015

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence and etiology of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, defined as total serum bilirubin (TSB) ≥450 µmol/L, and kernicterus spectrum disorder (KSD) in Denmark between 2000 and 2015.

STUDY DESIGN

We identified all infants born between 01.01.2000 and 31.12.2015 with TSB ≥450 µmol/L, ratio of conjugated to TSB <0.30, gestational age ≥35 weeks, and postnatal age ≤4 weeks, using Danish hospitals' laboratory databases.

RESULT

We included 408 infants. The incidence of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia among infants with gestational age ≥35 weeks was 42/100,000 during the study period with a seemingly decreasing incidence between 2005 and 2015. Twelve of the 408 infants developed KSD, (incidence 1.2/100,000) Blood type ABO isohemolytic disease was the most common explanatory etiology.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study stresses the importance of a systematic approach to neonatal jaundice and ongoing surveillance of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and KSD.

Umbilical cord bilirubin level and pre-discharge hyperbilirubinemia risk

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether arterial umbilical cord bilirubin (aUCB) level at delivery predicts predischarge neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, facilitating a safe discharge from the hospital.

METHODS

Prospective analysis of hospital biochemistry records identified near term and term infants with recorded aUCB and predischarge, at 36 h of life, capillary heal bilirubin (cHB), to identify those with a cutoff of bilirubin levels >9 mg/ml, >75th percentile on the nomogram of Bhutani et al.

RESULTS

Of 616 study neonates, median (IQR) aUCB and cHB levels were 1.5 mg % (IQR 0.7-2.2) and 7.7 mg % (IQR 6.6-8.9), respectively. The values resulted statistically correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.26, p < .0001) and an increment of 1 mg/dl in aUCB was associated with an increment (Regression coefficient, 95% confidence interval) of mean cHB 0.49 (0.33-0.65, p < .0001). Among these, 143 (23.2%) neonates developed bilirubin levels >9 mg/ml at 36 h of life and multivariable analysis confirmed that cHB levels (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.22-1.82; p < .0001) and vaginal delivery (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.33-4.36; p = .005) were significantly associated with bilirubin levels >9 mg/ml.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that aUCB should be added to the list of major risk factors for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Screening and treatment to reduce severe hyperbilirubinaemia in infants in primary care (STARSHIP): a factorial stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial protocol

INTRODUCTION

Jaundice caused by hyperbilirubinaemia is a physiological phenomenon in the neonatal period. However, severe hyperbilirubinaemia, when left untreated, may cause kernicterus, a severe condition resulting in lifelong neurological disabilities. Although commonly applied, visual inspection is ineffective in identifying severe hyperbilirubinaemia. We aim to investigate whether among babies cared for in primary care: (1) transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) screening can help reduce severe hyperbilirubinaemia and (2) primary care-based (versus hospital-based) phototherapy can help reduce hospital admissions.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A factorial stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted in seven Dutch primary care birth centres (PCBC). Neonates born after 35 weeks of gestation and cared for at a participating PCBC for at least 2 days within the first week of life are eligible, provided they have not received phototherapy before. According to the stepped-wedge design, following a phase of 'usual care' (visual assessment and selective total serum bilirubin (TSB) quantification), either daily TcB measurement or, if indicated, phototherapy in the PCBC will be implemented (phase II). In phase III, both interventions will be evaluated in each PCBC. We aim to include 5500 neonates over 3 years.Primary outcomes are assessed at 14 days of life: (1) the proportion of neonates having experienced severe hyperbilirubinaemia (for the TcB screening intervention), defined as a TSB above the mean of the phototherapy and the exchange transfusion threshold and (2) the proportion of neonates having required hospital admission for hyperbilirubinaemia treatment (for the phototherapy intervention in primary care).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has been approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the Erasmus MC Rotterdam, the Netherlands (MEC-2017-473). Written parental informed consent will be obtained. Results from this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at (inter)national meetings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NTR7187.

Growth Patterns of Neonates Treated with Thermal Control in Neutral Environment and Nutrition Regulation to Meet Basal Metabolism

Little is known about the growth patterns of low birth weight neonates (<2500 g) during standardized thermal control and nutrition regulation to meet basal metabolism requirements compared to those of non-low birth weight neonates (2500 g and above). We retrospectively identified 10,544 non-low birth weight and 681 low birth weight neonates placed in thermo-controlled incubators for up to 24 h after birth. All neonates were fed a 5% glucose solution 1 h after birth and breastfed every 3 h (with supplementary formula milk if applicable) to meet basal metabolism requirements. Maximum body-weight loss (%), percentage body-weight loss from birth to peak weight loss (%/day), and percentage body-weight gain from peak weight loss to day 4 (%/day) were assessed by multivariable linear regression. Overall, the growth curves showed a uniform J-shape across all birth weight categories, with a low mean maximum body-weight loss (1.9%) and incidence of neonatal jaundice (0.3%). The body-weight loss patterns did not differ between the two groups. However, low birth weight neonates showed significantly faster growth patterns for percentage body-weight gain: β = 0.52 (95% confidence interval, 0.46 to 0.58). Under thermal control and nutrition regulation, low birth weight neonates might not have disadvantages in clinical outcomes or growth patterns.

Rates of Extreme Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia and Kernicterus in Children and Adherence to National Guidelines for Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment in Sweden

IMPORTANCE

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia can cause lifelong neurodevelopmental impairment (kernicterus) even in high-resource settings. A better understanding of the incidence and processes leading to kernicterus may help in the design of preventive measures.

OBJECTIVES

To determine incidence rates of hazardous hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus among near-term to term newborns and to evaluate health care professional adherence to best practices.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This population-based nationwide cohort study used prospectively collected data on the highest serum bilirubin level for all infants born alive at 35 weeks' gestation or longer and admitted to neonatal care at all 46 delivery and 37 neonatal units in Sweden from 2008 to 2016. Medical records for newborns with hazardous hyperbilirubinemia were evaluated for best neonatal practices and for a diagnosis of kernicterus up to 2 years of age. Data analyses were performed between September 2017 and February 2018.

EXPOSURES

Extreme (serum bilirubin levels, 25.0-29.9 mg/dL [425-509 μmol/L]) and hazardous (serum bilirubin levels, ≥30.0 mg/dL [≥510 μmol/L]) neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was kernicterus, defined as hazardous neonatal hyperbilirubinemia followed by cerebral palsy, sensorineural hearing loss, gaze paralysis, or neurodevelopmental retardation. Secondary outcomes were health care professional adherence to national guidelines using a predefined protocol with 10 key performance indicators for diagnosis and treatment as well as assessment of whether bilirubin-associated brain damage might have been avoidable.

RESULTS

Among 992 378 live-born infants (958 051 term births and 34 327 near-term births), 494 (320 boys; mean [SD] birth weight, 3505 [527] g) developed extreme hyperbilirubinemia (50 per 100 000 infants), 6.8 per 100 000 infants developed hazardous hyperbilirubinemia, and 1.3 per 100 000 infants developed kernicterus. Among 13 children developing kernicterus, brain injury was assessed as potentially avoidable for 11 children based on the presence of 1 or several of the following possible causes: untimely or lack of predischarge bilirubin screening (n = 6), misinterpretation of bilirubin values (n = 2), untimely or delayed initiation of treatment with intensive phototherapy (n = 1), untimely or no treatment with exchange transfusion (n = 6), or lack of repeated exchange transfusions despite indication (n = 1).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Hazardous hyperbilirubinemia in near-term or term newborns still occurs in Sweden and was associated with disabling brain damage in 13 per million births. For most of these cases, health care professional noncompliance with best practices was identified, suggesting that a substantial proportion of these cases might have been avoided.

Prevalence and burden of illness of treated hemolytic neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in a privately insured population in the United States

BACKGROUND

Prevalence of hemolytic neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NHB) is not well characterized, and economic burden at the population level is poorly understood. This study evaluated the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and economic burden of hemolytic NHB newborns receiving treatment in U.S. real-world settings.

METHODS

This cohort study used administrative claims from 01/01/2011 to 08/31/2017. The treated cohort had hemolytic NHB diagnosis and received phototherapy, intravenous immunoglobulin, and/or exchange transfusions. They were matched with non-NHB newborns who had neither NHB nor related treatments on the following: delivery hospital/area, gender, delivery route, estimated gestational age (GA), health plan eligibility, and closest date of birth within 5 years. Inferential statistics were reported.

RESULTS

The annual NHB prevalence was 29.6 to 31.7%; hemolytic NHB, 1.8 to 2.4%; treated hemolytic NHB, 0.46 to 0.55%, between 2011 and 2016. The matched analysis included 1373 pairs ≥35 weeks GA. The treated hemolytic NHB cohort had significantly more birth trauma and hemorrhage (4.5% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.003), vacuum extractor affecting newborn (1.9% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.014), and polycythemia neonatorum (0.8% vs. 0%, p = 0.001) than the matched non-NHB cohort. The treated hemolytic NHB cohort also had significantly longer mean birth hospital stays (4.5 vs. 3.0 days, p < 0.001), higher level 2-4 neonatal intensive care admissions (15.7% vs. 2.4, 15.9% vs. 2.8 and 10.6% vs. 2.5%, respectively, all p < 0.001) and higher 30-day readmission (8.7% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.001). One-month and one-year average total costs of care were significantly higher for the treated hemolytic NHB cohort vs. the matched non-NHB cohort, $14,405 vs. $5527 (p < 0.001) and $21,556 vs. $12,986 (p < 0.001), respectively. The average costs for 30-day readmission among newborns who readmitted were $13,593 for the treated hemolytic NHB cohort and $3638 for the matched non-NHB cohort, p < 0.001. The authors extrapolated GA-adjusted prevalence of treated hemolytic NHB in the U.S. newborn population ≥ 35 weeks GA and estimated an incremental healthcare expenditure of $177.0 million during the first month after birth in 2016.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of treated hemolytic NHB was 4.6-5.5 patients per 1000 newborns. This high-risk hemolytic NHB imposed substantial burdens of healthcare resource utilization and incremental costs on newborns, their caregivers, and the healthcare system.

Birthplace is a risk factor for exchange transfusion in outborn infants admitted for jaundice in Myanmar: a case-control study

Aim: To evaluate the role of pathway to admission for jaundice among the risk factors for exchange transfusion in outborn infants in a low resource setting.Methods: This retrospective case-control study (1:1 ratio) was carried out at the Yankin Children's Hospital in Yangon (Myanmar). All cases were neonates admitted for treatment of jaundice between March 2013 and February 2014 and who required an exchange transfusion. Each control was the next noncase neonate admitted for treatment of jaundice and treated with phototherapy. Infant characteristics, pathways of admission and clinically relevant factors for exchange transfusion were collected.Results: One hundred thirty-four cases and 134 controls were included in the study. Among cases, home was the most common place of birth while public hospital was the most frequent source of referral. Among controls, private/public hospitals were the commonest places of birth and referral. At multivariable analysis, homebirth was associated with increased likelihood of receiving exchange transfusion at admission (OR 3.30, 95% C.I. 1.31-8.56).Conclusion: Homebirth was an independent risk factor for exchange transfusion at admission for jaundice in a low-resource setting. Appropriate health education of pregnant women and traditional/home birth attendants may contribute to reduce the need for exchange transfusion in low-resource settings.

ABO hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn: thirteen years of data after implementing a universal bilirubin screening and management program

OBJECTIVE

ABO hemolytic disease occurs among neonates with blood groups A or B delivered to group O women. Extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia due to ABO disease has been reported, but its frequency is not well known. We sought to determine the odds of developing severe ABO hemolytic disease in the 13 years since adopting universal bilirubin screening/management in the Intermountain Healthcare system.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective analysis of neonates born between 2004 and 2016, defining "severe hemolytic disease" as; (1) total serum bilirubin (TSB) >25 mg/dL, or (2) hospital readmission for jaundice, or (3) bilirubin encephalopathy. Neonates born to group O (+) mothers were included and considered either; (1) Controls (not at risk for ABO disease because they were group O), (2) Study subjects (at risk for ABO disease because they were group A or B).

RESULTS

Of 400,531 live births, 47% were to group O women; 86% of whom were group O (+). Overall, 42,529 (27%) neonates born to group O (+) women had their blood group determined; 29,729 (68%) were O, 10,682 (25%) A, and 3109 (7%) B. Peak TSBs during the first 10 days were higher in group A (11.0 ± 4.2 mg/dL) and B (11.5 ± 4.3) than group O neonates (10.3 ± 4.1). However the relative risks of a TSB ≥25 mg/dL, readmission for jaundice, or kernicterus, were the same in the control vs. study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In our health system, severe hemolytic disease in neonates born to group O (+) woman is not more likely in group A or B neonates than in controls (group O). We recognize that in other practices, particularly those who do not have a universal bilirubin screening/management program, ABO hemolytic disease severity might be different than in our system.

Burden of severe neonatal jaundice: a systematic review and meta-analysis

CONTEXT

To assess the global burden of late and/or poor management of severe neonatal jaundice (SNJ), a common problem worldwide, which may result in death or irreversible brain damage with disabilities in survivors. Population-based data establishing the global burden of SNJ has not been previously reported.

OBJECTIVE

Determine the burden of SNJ in all WHO regions, as defined by clinical jaundice associated with clinical outcomes including acute bilirubin encephalopathy/kernicterus and/or exchange transfusion (ET) and/or jaundice-related death.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Scopus and other health databases were searched, without language restrictions, from 1990 to 2017 for studies reporting the incidence of SNJ.

STUDY SELECTION/DATA EXTRACTION

Stratification was performed for WHO regions and results were pooled using random effects model and meta-regression.

RESULTS

Of 416 articles including at least one marker of SNJ, only 21 reported estimates from population-based studies, with 76% (16/21) of them conducted in high-income countries. The African region has the highest incidence of SNJ per 10 000 live births at 667.8 (95% CI 603.4 to 738.5), followed by Southeast Asian, Eastern Mediterranean, Western Pacific, Americas and European regions at 251.3 (132.0 to 473.2), 165.7 (114.6 to 238.9), 9.4 (0.1 to 755.9), 4.4 (1.8 to 10.5) and 3.7 (1.7 to 8.0), respectively. The incidence of ET per 10 000 live births was significantly higher for Africa and Southeast Asian regions at 186.5 (153.2 to 226.8) and 107.1 (102.0 to 112.5) and lower in Eastern Mediterranean (17.8 (5.7 to 54.9)), Americas (0.38 (0.21 to 0.67)), European (0.35 (0.20 to 0.60)) and Western Pacific regions (0.19 (0.12 to 0.31). Only 2 studies provided estimates of clear jaundice-related deaths in infants with significant jaundice [UK (2.8%) and India (30.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Limited but compelling evidence demonstrates that SNJ is associated with a significant health burden especially in low-income and middle-income countries.

Association of Universal Bilirubin Screening With Socioeconomic Disparities in Newborn Follow-up

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether implementation of universal bilirubin screening in Ontario, Canada is associated with improved rates of recommended follow-up care across socioeconomic status (SES).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study of all babies born at ≥35 weeks' gestation and discharged to home within 72 hours from 97 hospitals between April, 2003 and February, 2011. We used linked administrative health data sets to measure recommended follow-up care (physician visit within 1 day of discharge for babies discharged ≤24 hours after birth, or physician visit within 2 days for babies discharged 24-72 hours after birth). We used maternal postal code and the Canadian Deprivation Index to determine material deprivation quintile. We modeled the relationship between universal bilirubin screening and outcomes using generalized estimating equations to account for clustering according to hospital, underlying temporal trends, and important covariates.

RESULTS

Universal bilirubin screening was associated with a modest increase in recommended follow-up from 29.9% to 35.0% (n = 711,242; adjusted relative risk: 1.11; P = .047). Disparity in recommended follow-up increased after screening implementation, with 40% of the crude increase attributable to the highest SES quintile and none to the lowest SES quintile.

CONCLUSIONS

Universal bilirubin screening has had only a modest effect in ensuring timely follow-up for Ontario newborn babies, which represents an ongoing weakness in efforts to prevent severe hyperbilirubinemia. The observed increase in SES disparity in access to recommended follow-up suggests that universal programs that fail to address root causes of disparities might lead to overall improvements in population outcomes but increased inequity.

[Criteria for hospital discharge of the healthy term newborn after delivery]

Criteria for newborn hospital discharge have to include physiological stability and family competence to provide newborn care at home. In this document, the Committee of Standards of the Spanish Society of Neonatology reviews the minimum criteria to be met before hospital discharge of a term newborn infant. We include a review of hospital discharge criteria for the late preterm infants, as these infants are often not hospitalised and remain with their mother after birth. A shortened hospital stay (less than 48h after delivery) for healthy term newborns can be considered, but it is not appropriate for every mother and newborn. Newborn infants discharged before 48h of age, should be examined within 3-4 days of life.

Extreme hyperbilirubinemia and rescue exchange transfusion in California from 2007 to 2012

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of statewide learning collaboratives that used national guidelines to manage jaundice on the serial prevalence of extreme hyperbilirubinemia (EHB, total bilirubin ⩾25 mg dl(-1)) and exchange transfusions introduced in California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative (CPQCC) hospitals in 2007.

STUDY DESIGN

Adverse outcomes were retrieved from statewide databases on re-admissions for live births ⩾35 weeks' gestation (2007 to 2012) in diverse CPQCC hospitals. Individual and cumulative select perinatal risk factors and frequencies were the outcomes measures.

RESULTS

For 3 172 762 babies (2007 to 2012), 92.5% were ⩾35 weeks' gestation. Statewide EHB and exchange rates decreased from 28.2 to 15.3 and 3.6 to 1.9 per 100 000 live births, respectively. From 2007 to 2012, the trends for TB>25 mg dl(-1) rates were -0.92 per 100 000 live births per year (95% CI: -3.71 to 1.87, P=0.41 and R(2)=0.17).

CONCLUSION

National guidelines complemented by statewide learning collaboratives can decrease or modify outcomes among all birth facilities and impact clinical practice behavior.

The neonatal preventable harm index: a high reliability tool

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to identify, quantify and disseminate a novel set of safety indicators for monitoring the occurrence of preventable harm in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

STUDY DESIGN

Literature review and experiences in an academic, level IV NICU identified prevalent, preventable safety events: hospital-acquired infections (catheter-associated bloodstream infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia), unscheduled extubations, intravenous infiltrates requiring intervention, first week readmissions, serious adverse drug events and miscellaneous events (unanticipated harm or serious near misses). Negative binominal regression evaluated the event incidence trends.

RESULTS

Of 226 preventable harm events occurring between March 2013 and January 2015, the most common were unscheduled extubations (98; 2/100 ventilator days) and intravenous infiltrates (62; 2.7/100 admissions). No trends were detected (rate ratio: 0.99; confidence limits: 0.96 to 1.01; P=0.38).

CONCLUSION

The Neonatal Preventable Harm Index represents a novel and transparent means to monitor serious safety events and direct harm prevention strategies in the NICU.

Phototherapy for the Treatment of Neonatal Jaundice and Breastfeeding Duration and Exclusivity

INTRODUCTION

Because neonatal jaundice remains one of the most commonly treated conditions of the newborn infant, it is important to assess the unintended consequences of treatment with phototherapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether treatment with phototherapy affects breastfeeding duration in newborns >35 weeks gestation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. The exposure of interest was treatment of neonatal jaundice with phototherapy. The outcomes of interest were any breastfeeding through 12 months and exclusive breastfeeding through 4 months. Logistic regression models were developed to evaluate the association between the exposure and outcomes of interest. All models were adjusted for maternal age, race, education, household income, and gestational age, as well as for several potential markers of suboptimal breastfeeding.

RESULTS

Our study included 4,441 infants, of which 220 (5%) received phototherapy. We found no difference in the likelihood of any breastfeeding through 9 months of age, however, by 12 months, infants exposed to phototherapy were less likely to still be breastfed than those who were not exposed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.58, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.37-0.92). Infants exposed to phototherapy were less likely to be exclusively breastfed throughout the first 4 months of life.

CONCLUSION

Although phototherapy use did not substantially impact rates of any breastfeeding during the first year, it was associated with decreased rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 4 months of life. This suggests that we need to tailor messaging to mothers of infants receiving phototherapy to promote exclusive breastfeeding.

Severe Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia Decreased after the 2007 Canadian Guidelines

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the incidence of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Canada from 2011-2013 following the implementation of the Canadian Pediatric Society's published guidelines on the management of hyperbilirubinemia in 2007. Our previously reported incidence of hyperbilirubinemia in Canada was 1 in 2480.

STUDY DESIGN

Term infants ≤ 60 days of age, with a peak serum total bilirubin level > 425 μmol/L or who had an exchange transfusion were followed prospectively through the Canadian Pediatric Surveillance Program from 2011-2013. Infants with rhesus isoimmunization or born < 35 weeks gestation were excluded.

RESULTS

Ninety-one cases of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia were confirmed. Sixty-nine infants (76%) were readmitted to hospital, 47 (52%) of them within 6 days of age. The remaining 22 infants (24%) were identified with severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia before they were discharged from the hospital. The mean reported peak bilirubin level was 484 μmol/L (range 181-788; SD ± 92). An etiology was identified in 57 (63%) cases, with ABO incompatibility (n = 35) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (n = 11) being the most common. An infant was 3.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia from 2002-2004 compared with 2011-2013 (95% CI 2.72-4.47).

CONCLUSIONS

The minimum estimated incidence of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in Canada is 1 in 8352 live births. Introduction of the Canadian Pediatric Society guidelines and improved physician awareness of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in the last 10 years likely made positive contributions to this trend.

Predicting Nonhemolytic Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

BACKGROUND

Before hospital discharge, newborn infants should be assessed for the risk of excessive hyperbilirubinemia. We determined maternal and obstetric risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia in infants born at term (gestational age ≥37 weeks) to form an individualized risk assessment tool for clinical use.

METHODS

This was a population-based study with data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register from 1999 to 2012, including 1,261,948 singleton infants. Outcome was defined as infants diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia (N = 23,711), excluding all cases of hemolytic (immune-mediated or other specified hemolytic) diseases of the newborn.

RESULTS

Risk factors with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia of ≥1.5 (medium-sized effect or more) were gestational age 37 to 38 weeks (aOR = 2.83), failed vacuum extraction (aOR = 2.79), vacuum extraction (aOR = 2.22), Asian mother (aOR = 2.09), primipara (aOR = 2.06), large-for-gestational-age infant (aOR = 1.84), obese mother (aOR = 1.83), and small-for-gestational-age infant (aOR = 1.66). Planned cesarean delivery (CD) was associated with a reduced risk (aOR = 0.45). Without any of these risk factors (normal birth weight infant delivered vaginally at 39 to 41 weeks' gestation by a non-Asian, nonobese, multiparous mother) the rate of nonhemolytic neonatal hyperbilirubinemia was 0.7%. In relation to the combined load of different risk factors, rates of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia ranged from 0.2% to 25%.

CONCLUSIONS

Collection of a few easily available maternal and obstetric risk factors predicts >100-fold variation in the incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The information provided herein enables individualized risk prediction with interactions between different risk factors taken into account.

Early discharge of infants and risk of readmission for jaundice

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between early discharge from hospital after birth and readmission to hospital for jaundice among term infants, and among infants discharged early, to investigate the perinatal risk factors for readmission for jaundice.

METHODS

Birth data for 781,074 term live-born infants born in New South Wales, Australia from 2001 to 2010 were linked to hospital admission data. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between postnatal length of stay (LOS), gestational age (GA), and readmission for jaundice in the first 14 days of life. Other significant perinatal risk factors associated with readmission for jaundice were examined for infants discharged in the first 2 days after birth.

RESULTS

Eight per 1000 term infants were readmitted for jaundice. Infants born at 37 weeks' GA with an LOS at birth of 0 to 2 days were over 9 times (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 9.43; 95% CI, 8.34-10.67) and at 38 weeks' GA were 4 times (aOR 4.05; 95% CI, 3.62-4.54) more likely to be readmitted for jaundice compared with infants born at 39 weeks' GA with an LOS of 3 to 4 days. Other significant risk factors for readmission for jaundice for infants discharged 0 to 2 days after birth included vaginal birth, born to mothers from an Asian country, born to first-time mothers, or being breastfed at discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

This study can inform guidelines or policy about identifying infants at risk for readmission for jaundice and ensure that appropriate post-discharge follow-up is received.

Overdiagnosis: how our compulsion for diagnosis may be harming children

Overdiagnosis occurs when a true abnormality is discovered, but detection of that abnormality does not benefit the patient. It should be distinguished from misdiagnosis, in which the diagnosis is inaccurate, and it is not synonymous with overtreatment or overuse, in which excess medication or procedures are provided to patients for both correct and incorrect diagnoses. Overdiagnosis for adult conditions has gained a great deal of recognition over the last few years, led by realizations that certain screening initiatives, such as those for breast and prostate cancer, may be harming the very people they were designed to protect. In the fall of 2014, the second international Preventing Overdiagnosis Conference will be held, and the British Medical Journal will produce an overdiagnosis-themed journal issue. However, overdiagnosis in children has been less well described. This special article seeks to raise awareness of the possibility of overdiagnosis in pediatrics, suggesting that overdiagnosis may affect commonly diagnosed conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bacteremia, food allergy, hyperbilirubinemia, obstructive sleep apnea, and urinary tract infection. Through these and other examples, we discuss why overdiagnosis occurs and how it may be harming children. Additionally, we consider research and education strategies, with the goal to better elucidate pediatric overdiagnosis and mitigate its influence.

Care practices and traditional beliefs related to neonatal jaundice in northern Vietnam: a population-based, cross-sectional descriptive study

BACKGROUND

The National Hospital of Pediatrics in Vietnam performed >200 exchange transfusions annually (2006-08), often on infants presenting encephalopathic from lower-level hospitals. As factors delaying care-seeking are not known, we sought to study care practices and traditional beliefs relating to neonatal jaundice in northern Vietnam.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional, population-based, descriptive study from November 2008 through February 2010. We prospectively identified mothers of newborns through an on-going regional cohort study. Trained research assistants administered a 78-item questionnaire to mothers during home visits 14-28 days after birth except those we could not contact or whose babies remained hospitalized at 28 days.

RESULTS

We enrolled 979 mothers; 99% delivered at a health facility. Infants were discharged at a median age of 1.35 days. Only 11% received jaundice education; only 27% thought jaundice could be harmful. During the first week, 77% of newborns were kept in dark rooms. Only 2.5% had routine follow-up before 14 days. Among 118 mothers who were worried by their infant's jaundice but did not seek care, 40% held non-medical beliefs about its cause or used traditional therapies instead of seeking care. Phototherapy was uncommon: 6 (0.6%) were treated before discharge and 3 (0.3%) on readmission. However, there were no exchange transfusions, kernicterus cases, or deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Early discharge without follow-up, low maternal knowledge, cultural practices, and use of traditional treatments may limit or delay detection or care-seeking for jaundice. However, in spite of the high prevalence of these practices and the low frequency of treatment, no bad outcomes were seen in this study of nearly 1,000 newborns.

Universal bilirubin screening and health care utilization

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of the implementation of universal bilirubin screening on neonatal health care use in the context of a large jurisdiction with universal health insurance.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of all newborns discharged after birth between April 2003 and February 2011 from 42 hospitals that implemented universal bilirubin screening between July 2007 and June 2010 in Ontario, Canada. We surveyed hospitals to determine their screening implementation date. We used multiple linked administrative health data sets to measure phototherapy use, length of stay (LOS), jaundice-related emergency department visits, and jaundice-related readmissions. We modeled the relationship between universal bilirubin screening and outcomes using generalized estimating equations to account for clustering by hospital, underlying temporal trends, and important covariates.

RESULTS

Screening was associated with an increase in phototherapy during hospitalization at birth (relative risk, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.59) and a decrease in jaundice-related emergency department visits (relative risk, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.64-0.96) but no statistically significant difference in phototherapy after discharge, LOS, or jaundice-related readmissions after accounting for preexisting temporal trends in health care service use and other patient sociodemographic and hospital characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Universal bilirubin screening may not be associated with increased neonatal LOS or increased subsequent hospital use. Our findings are relevant for determining the resource implications of universal bilirubin screening in Ontario. They highlight the limitations in generalizability of previous research on health care utilization associated with similar programs and underline the importance of context-specific local evaluation of guideline implementation.

Incidence, etiology, and outcomes of hazardous hyperbilirubinemia in newborns

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels ≥ 30 mg/dL are rare but potentially hazardous. A better understanding of their incidence, causes, and outcomes could help inform preventive efforts.

METHODS

We identified infants born ≥ 35 weeks' gestational age from 1995-2011 in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (n = 525409) and examined the medical records of infants with a TSB ≥ 30 mg/dL to determine etiology and the occurrence of acute bilirubin encephalopathy. We reviewed inpatient and outpatient encounters through 2013 for evidence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) or cerebral palsy (CP).

RESULTS

We identified 47 infants with TSB ≥ 30 mg/dL (8.6 per 100000 births). In 44 infants (94%), the hyperbilirubinemia occurred after the initial birth hospitalization. The etiology was not identified in 33 (70%). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was measured in only 25 (53%) of whom 10 (40%) were deficient. Four children had acute bilirubin encephalopathy of whom 2 developed both CP and SNHL, and 1 developed isolated SNHL. These 3 infants all had G6PD deficiency and TSB >40 mg/dL. One additional 35-week infant with TSB 38.2 mg/dL had SNHL.

CONCLUSIONS

Hazardous (≥ 30 mg/dL) hyperbilirubinemia is a rare event. No etiology could be identified from the clinical record in most cases. G6PD deficiency was the leading cause of hazardous hyperbilirubinemia when an etiology was identified, but many were not tested. Chronic, bilirubin-induced neurotoxicity was uncommon and occurred only in the setting of additional risk factors and TSB values well over (>15 mg/dL) the American Academy of Pediatrics exchange transfusion thresholds.

Causes of hemolysis in neonates with extreme hyperbilirubinemia

OBJECTIVE

We instituted a quality improvement process to enhance our capacity to diagnose genetic hemolytic conditions in neonates with extreme hyperbilirubinemia.

STUDY DESIGN

During a 1-year period, whenever the total serum bilirubin (TSB) was >25 mg dl(-1) a special evaluation was performed. If we deemed an erythrocyte membrane defect likely, based on red blood cell morphology, EMA-flow cytometry was performed. Otherwise 'next-generation' sequencing was performed using a panel of genes involved in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

RESULT

Ten neonates had a TSB ⩾ 25 mg dl(-1). Two others were evaluated as part of this process at the request of their attending neonatologists, because each had a TSB >14 mg dl(-1) in the first hours after birth and required phototherapy for ⩾ 1 week. Explanations for the jaundice were found in all 12 neonates. Five had hereditary spherocytosis, three of which also had ABO hemolytic disease. Two had pyruvate kinase deficiency. One had severe G6PD deficiency. The other four had ABO hemolytic disease.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of the present small case series, we suggest that among neonates with extreme hyperbilirubinemia, it can be productive to pursue a genetic basis for hemolytic disease.