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Salazar EG, Passarella M, Formanowski B, Rogowski J, Edwards E, Phibbs C, Lorch SA. The Association of NICU Strain with Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.07.07.24310050. [PMID: 39040203 PMCID: PMC11261945 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.07.24310050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Objective To examine the association of admission NICU strain with neonatal mortality and morbidity. Study Design 2008-2021 South Carolina cohort using linked vital statistics and discharge data of 22-44 weeks GA infants, born at hospitals with ≥ level 2 unit and ≥5 births of infants <34 weeks GA/year. The exposure was tertiles of admission NICU strain, defined as the sum of infants <44 weeks GA with a congenital anomaly plus all infants born <33 weeks GA at midnight on the day of birth. We used Poisson generalized linear mixed models to examine the association of exposure to strain with the primary outcome of a composite of mortality and term and preterm morbidities adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. Results We studied 64,647 infants from 30 hospitals. High strain was associated with increased risk of mortality and morbidity adjusting for patient/hospital factors (aIRR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.12). Conclusion NICU strain is associated with increased adverse outcomes.
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Hughes CS, Schmitt S, Passarella M, Lorch SA, Phibbs CS. Who's in the NICU? A population-level analysis. J Perinatol 2024:10.1038/s41372-024-02039-6. [PMID: 38944662 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-024-02039-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To understand the characteristics of infants admitted to US NICUs. STUDY DESIGN 2006-2014 linked birth certificate and hospital discharge data for potentially viable deliveries in Pennsylvania and South Carolina were used. NICU admissions were identified using revenue codes. NICU-admitted infants were categorized by gestational age (GA), birthweight, and condition severity (for GA 35+ weeks). We also assessed total patient days and trends over time. RESULTS 12% of infants were admitted to a NICU; 13.6% were GA < 32 weeks (45.3% of total days); 36.1% were GA 32-36 weeks (31.2% of total days); and 50.4% were GA 37+ weeks (23.5% of total days). 20% of admissions were for infants with GA 35+ weeks and mild conditions. Admissions increased numerically from 11.2% (2006) to 13.0% (2014), with increases among infants 35+ weeks. CONCLUSION Most NICU admissions are for infants 35+ weeks GA, many with mild conditions who may be accommodated in well-baby units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn S Hughes
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Susan Schmitt
- Health Economics Resource Center and Center for Implementation to Innovation, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Molly Passarella
- Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Scott A Lorch
- Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ciaran S Phibbs
- Health Economics Resource Center and Center for Implementation to Innovation, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Shah NR, Price A, Mobli K, O'Leary S, Radhakrishnan RS. Temporal Trends of Neonatal Surgical Conditions in Texas and Accessibility to Pediatric Surgical Care. J Surg Res 2024; 296:29-36. [PMID: 38215674 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Texas consistently accounts for approximately 10% of annual national births, the second highest of all US states. This temporal study aimed to evaluate incidences of neonatal surgical conditions across Texas and to delineate regional pediatric surgeon accessibility. METHODS The Texas Birth Defects Registry was queried from 1999 to 2018, based on 11 well-established regions. Nine disorders (30,476 patients) were identified as being within the operative scope of pediatric surgeons: biliary atresia (BA), pyloric stenosis (PS), Hirschsprung's disease, stenosis/atresia of large intestine/rectum/anus, stenosis/atresia of small intestine, tracheoesophageal fistula/esophageal atresia, gastroschisis, omphalocele, and congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Annual and regional incidences were compared (/10,000 births). Statewide pediatric surgeons were identified through the American Pediatric Surgical Association directory. Regional incidences of neonatal disorder per surgeon were evaluated from 2010 to 2018 as a surrogate for provider disparity. RESULTS PS demonstrated the highest incidence (14.405/10,000), while BA had the lowest (0.707/10,000). Overall, incidences of PS and BA decreased significantly, while incidences of Hirschsprung's disease and small intestine increased. Other diagnoses remained stable. Regions 2 (48.24/10,000) and 11 (47.79/10,000) had the highest incidence of neonatal conditions; Region 6 had the lowest (34.68/10,000). Three rural regions (#2, 4, 9) lacked pediatric surgeons from 2010 to 2018. Of regions with at least one surgeon, historically underserved regions (#10, 11) along the Texas-Mexico border consistently had the highest defect per surgeon rates. CONCLUSIONS There are temporal and regional differences in incidences of neonatal conditions treated by pediatric surgeons across Texas. Improving access to neonatal care is a complex issue that necessitates collaborative efforts between state legislatures, health systems, and providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil R Shah
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
| | - Anthony Price
- John Sealy School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Keyan Mobli
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Sean O'Leary
- John Sealy School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Ravi S Radhakrishnan
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
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Salazar EG, Passarella M, Formanowski B, Phibbs CS, Lorch SA, Handley SC. The impact of volume and neonatal level of care on outcomes of moderate and late preterm infants. J Perinatol 2024:10.1038/s41372-024-01901-x. [PMID: 38413758 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-024-01901-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Evaluate the relationship of neonatal unit level of care (LOC) and volume with mortality or morbidity in moderate-late preterm (MLP) (32-36 weeks' gestation) infants. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study of 650,865 inborn MLP infants in 4976 hospitals-years using 2003-2015 linked administrative data from 4 states. Exposure was combined neonatal LOC and MLP annual volume. The primary outcome was death or morbidity (respiratory distress syndrome, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, infection, pneumothorax, extreme length of stay) with components as secondary outcomes. Poisson regression models adjusted for patient characteristics with a random effect for unit were used. RESULTS In adjusted models, high-volume level 2 units had a lower risk of the primary outcome compared to low-volume level 3 units (aIRR 0.90 [95% CI 0.83-0.98] vs. aIRR 1.13 [95% CI 1.03-1.24], p < 0.001) CONCLUSION: MLP infants had improved outcomes in high-volume level 2 units compared to low-volume level 3 units in adjusted analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth G Salazar
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Molly Passarella
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Brielle Formanowski
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ciaran S Phibbs
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Scott A Lorch
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sara C Handley
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Wu CL, Chen CH, Chang JH, Peng CC, Hsu CH, Lin CY, Jim WT, Chang HY. The effect of patient volume on mortality and morbidity of extremely low birth weight infants in Taiwan. J Formos Med Assoc 2023; 122:1199-1207. [PMID: 37286420 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2023.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To assess whether the number of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants treated annually in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Taiwan affects the mortality and morbidity of this patient population. METHODS This retrospective cohort study included preterm infants with ELBW (≤1000 g). NICUs were divided into three subgroups according to the annual admissions of ELBW infants (low, ≤10; medium, 11-25; and high, >25). Perinatal characteristics, mortality, and short-term morbidities were compared between groups. RESULTS A total of 1945 ELBW infants from 17 NICUs were analyzed (low-volume, n = 263; medium-volume, n = 420; and high-volume, n = 1262). After risk adjustments, infants from NICUs with low patient volumes were at a higher risk of death. The risk-adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for mortality were 0.61 (95% CI, 0.43-0.86) in the high-volume NICUs and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.43-0.98) in medium-volume NICUs, compared with infants admitted to low-volume NICUs. Infants in medium-volume NICUs had the lowest incidence of prenatal steroid exposure (58.1%, P < 0.001) and were associated with the highest risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (aOR, 2.35 [95% CI, 1.48-3.72]), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (aOR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.01-2.28]), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (aOR, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.10-2.35]). However, survival without major morbidity did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION The mortality risk was higher among ELBW infants admitted to NICUs with a low annual patient volume. This may emphasize the importance of systematically referring patients from these vulnerable populations to appropriate care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Ling Wu
- Branch for Women and Children, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neonatology, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Huei Chen
- Department of Neonatology, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Hsing Chang
- Department of Neonatology, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chih Peng
- Department of Neonatology, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chyong-Hsin Hsu
- Department of Neonatology, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ying Lin
- Department of Neonatology, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wai-Tim Jim
- Department of Neonatology, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yang Chang
- Department of Neonatology, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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Flynn KE, McDonnell SM, Brazauskas R, Ahamed SI, McIntosh JJ, Pitt MB, Pizur-Barnekow K, Kim UO, Kruper A, Leuthner SR, Basir MA. Smartphone-Based Video Antenatal Preterm Birth Education: The Preemie Prep for Parents Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr 2023; 177:2807911. [PMID: 37523163 PMCID: PMC10481234 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.1586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Importance Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant mortality and child morbidity. Preterm birth is not always unexpected, yet standard prenatal care does not offer anticipatory education to parents at risk of delivering preterm, which leaves parents unprepared to make health care choices during the pregnancy that can improve survival and decrease morbidity in case of preterm birth. Objective To evaluate the effect of the Preemie Prep for Parents (P3) program on maternal knowledge of preterm birth, preparation for decision-making, and anxiety. Design, Setting, and Participants Recruitment for this randomized clinical trial conducted at a US academic medical center took place from February 3, 2020, to April 12, 2021. A total of 120 pregnant persons with a risk factor for preterm birth were enrolled between 16 and 21 weeks' gestational age and followed up through pregnancy completion. Intervention Starting at 18 weeks' gestational age, P3 program participants received links delivered via text message to 51 gestational age-specific short animated videos. Control participants received links to patient education webpages from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Main Outcomes and Measures At 25 weeks' gestation, scores on the Parent Prematurity Knowledge Questionnaire (scored as percent correct), Preparation for Decision Making Scale (scored 0-100), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety computerized adaptive test. Analysis was based on an intention to treat. Results A total of 120 pregnant participants (mean [SD] age, 32.5 [4.9] years) were included in the study; 60 participants were randomized to each group. Participants in the P3 group scored higher than those in the control group on knowledge of long-term outcomes at 25 weeks (88.5% vs 73.2%; estimated difference, 15.3 percentage points; 95% CI, 8.3-22.5 percentage points; P < .001). Participants in the P3 group reported being significantly more prepared than did participants in the control group for neonatal resuscitation decision-making at 25 weeks (Preparation for Decision Making Scale score, 76.0 vs 52.3; difference, 23.7; 95% CI, 14.1-33.2). There was no difference between the P3 group and the control group in anxiety at 25 weeks (mean [SE] PROMIS Anxiety scores, 53.8 [1.1] vs 54.0 [1.1]; difference, -0.1; 95% CI, -3.2 to 2.9). Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, pregnant persons randomly assigned to the P3 program had more knowledge of core competencies and were more prepared to make decisions that affect maternal and infant health, without experiencing worse anxiety. Mobile antenatal preterm birth education may provide a unique benefit to parents with preterm birth risk factors. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04093492.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ruta Brazauskas
- Division of Biostatistics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - S. Iqbal Ahamed
- Department of Computer Science, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | | | - Michael B. Pitt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, Minneapolis
| | | | - U. Olivia Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois
| | - Abbey Kruper
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | | | - Mir A. Basir
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
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Caruso BA, Paniagua U, Hoffman I, Manji K, Saidi F, Sudfeld CR, Vernekar SS, Bakari M, Duggan CP, Kibogoyo GC, Kisenge R, Somji S, Kafansiyanji E, Mvalo T, Nyirenda N, Phiri M, Bellad R, Dhaded S, K A C, Koppad B, Nabapure S, Nanda S, Singh B, Yogeshkumar S, Fleming K, North K, Tuller DE, Semrau KEA, Vesel L, Young MF. Safe infant feeding in healthcare facilities: Assessment of infection prevention and control conditions and behaviors in India, Malawi, and Tanzania. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001843. [PMID: 37289720 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Infants need to receive care in environments that limit their exposure to pathogens. Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) environments and suboptimal infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings contribute to the burden of healthcare-associated infections, which are particularly high in low-income settings. Specific research is needed to understand infant feeding preparation in healthcare settings, a task involving multiple behaviors that can introduce pathogens and negatively impact health. To understand feeding preparation practices and potential risks, and to inform strategies for improvement, we assessed facility WASH environments and observed infant feeding preparation practices across 12 facilities in India, Malawi, and Tanzania serving newborn infants. Research was embedded within the Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration (LIFE) observational cohort study, which documented feeding practices and growth patterns to inform feeding interventions. We assessed WASH-related environments and feeding policies of all 12 facilities involved in the LIFE study. Additionally, we used a guidance-informed tool to carry out 27 feeding preparation observations across 9 facilities, enabling assessment of 270 total behaviors. All facilities had 'improved' water and sanitation services. Only 50% had written procedures for preparing expressed breastmilk; 50% had written procedures for cleaning, drying, and storage of infant feeding implements; and 33% had written procedures for preparing infant formula. Among 270 behaviors assessed across the 27 feeding preparation observations, 46 (17.0%) practices were carried out sub-optimally, including preparers not handwashing prior to preparation, and cleaning, drying, and storing of feeding implements in ways that do not effectively prevent contamination. While further research is needed to improve assessment tools and to identify specific microbial risks of the suboptimal behaviors identified, the evidence generated is sufficient to justify investment in developing guidance and programing to strengthen infant feeding preparation practices to ensure optimal newborn health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany A Caruso
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Uriel Paniagua
- Department of Epidemiology, Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Irving Hoffman
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Karim Manji
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Friday Saidi
- University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Christopher R Sudfeld
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sunil S Vernekar
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed-to-be-University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India
| | - Mohamed Bakari
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Christopher P Duggan
- Center for Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Nutrition, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - George C Kibogoyo
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rodrick Kisenge
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Sarah Somji
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Tisungane Mvalo
- University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Naomie Nyirenda
- University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Melda Phiri
- University of North Carolina Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Roopa Bellad
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed-to-be-University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India
| | - Sangappa Dhaded
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed-to-be-University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India
| | - Chaya K A
- Bapuji Child Health Institute & Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka, India
| | - Bhavana Koppad
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed-to-be-University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India
| | - Shilpa Nabapure
- SS Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Davangere, Karnataka, India
| | - Saumya Nanda
- Shri Jagannath Medical College and Hospital, Puri, Odisha, India
| | - Bipsa Singh
- Shri Jagannath Medical College and Hospital, Puri, Odisha, India
| | - S Yogeshkumar
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed-to-be-University), Belgaum, Karnataka, India
| | - Katelyn Fleming
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Krysten North
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Danielle E Tuller
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Katherine E A Semrau
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Linda Vesel
- Ariadne Labs, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Melissa F Young
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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DeSisto CL, Kroelinger CD, Levecke M, Akbarali S, Pliska E, Barfield WD. Maternal and neonatal risk-appropriate care: gaps, strategies, and areas for further research. J Perinatol 2023; 43:817-822. [PMID: 36631565 PMCID: PMC9838520 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-022-01580-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Risk-appropriate care is a strategy to improve perinatal health outcomes by providing care to pregnant persons and infants in facilities with the personnel and services capable of meeting their health needs. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials hosted discussions among state health officials, health agency staff, and clinicians to advance risk-appropriate care. The discussions focused on neonatal levels of care, levels of maternal care, ancillary services utilized for care of both populations including transport and telemedicine, and issues affecting provision of care such as standardization of state policies or approaches, reimbursement for services, gaps in risk-appropriate care, and equity. State-identified implementation strategies for improvement were presented. In this Perspective, we summarize current studies describing provision of risk-appropriate care in the United States, identify gaps in research, and highlight ongoing and proposed activities to address research gaps and support state health officials and clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla L DeSisto
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, GA, USA.
| | - Charlan D Kroelinger
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, GA, USA
| | - Madison Levecke
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, GA, USA
| | - Sanaa Akbarali
- Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Ellen Pliska
- Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Wanda D Barfield
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chamblee, GA, USA
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9
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Boghossian NS, Geraci M, Phibbs CS, Lorch SA, Edwards EM, Horbar JD. Trends in Resources for Neonatal Intensive Care at Delivery Hospitals for Infants Born Younger Than 30 Weeks' Gestation, 2009-2020. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2312107. [PMID: 37145593 PMCID: PMC10163386 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.12107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance In an ideal regionalized system, all infants born very preterm would be delivered at a large tertiary hospital capable of providing all necessary care. Objective To examine whether the distribution of extremely preterm births changed between 2009 and 2020 based on neonatal intensive care resources at the delivery hospital. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study was conducted at 822 Vermont Oxford Network (VON) centers in the US between 2009 and 2020. Participants included infants born at 22 to 29 weeks' gestation, delivered at or transferred to centers participating in the VON. Data were analyzed from February to December 2022. Exposures Hospital of birth at 22 to 29 weeks' gestation. Main Outcomes and Measures Birthplace neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) level was classified as A, restriction on assisted ventilation or no surgery; B, major surgery; or C, cardiac surgery requiring bypass. Level B centers were further divided into low-volume (<50 inborn infants at 22 to 29 weeks' gestation per year) and high-volume (≥50 inborn infants at 22 to 29 weeks' gestation per year) centers. High-volume level B and level C centers were combined, resulting in 3 distinct NICU categories: level A, low-volume B, and high-volume B and C NICUs. The main outcome was the change in the percentage of births at hospitals with level A, low-volume B, and high-volume B or C NICUs overall and by US Census region. Results A total of 357 181 infants (mean [SD] gestational age, 26.4 [2.1] weeks; 188 761 [52.9%] male) were included in the analysis. Across regions, the Pacific (20 239 births [38.3%]) had the lowest while the South Atlantic (48 348 births [62.7%]) had the highest percentage of births at a hospital with a high-volume B- or C-level NICU. Births at hospitals with A-level NICUs increased by 5.6% (95% CI, 4.3% to 7.0%), and births at low-volume B-level NICUs increased by 3.6% (95% CI, 2.1% to 5.0%), while births at hospitals with high-volume B- or C-level NICUs decreased by 9.2% (95% CI, -10.3% to -8.1%). By 2020, less than half of the births for infants at 22 to 29 weeks' gestation occurred at hospitals with high-volume B- or C-level NICUs. Most US Census regions followed the nationwide trends; for example, births at hospitals with high-volume B- or C-level NICUs decreased by 10.9% [95% CI, -14.0% to -7.8%) in the East North Central region and by 21.1% (95% CI, -24.0% to -18.2%) in the West South Central region. Conclusions and Relevance This retrospective cohort study identified concerning deregionalization trends in birthplace hospital level of care for infants born at 22 to 29 weeks' gestation. These findings should serve to encourage policy makers to identify and enforce strategies to ensure that infants at the highest risk of adverse outcomes are born at the hospitals where they have the best chances to attain optimal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nansi S. Boghossian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia
| | - Marco Geraci
- MEMOTEF Department, School of Economics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ciaran S. Phibbs
- Health Economics Resource Center and Center for Implementation to Innovation, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California
- Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Scott A. Lorch
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Erika M. Edwards
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Vermont, Burlington
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington
| | - Jeffrey D. Horbar
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington
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10
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Fortney CA, Baughcum AE, Garcia D, Winning AM, Humphrey L, Cistone N, Moscato EL, Keim MC, Nelin LD, Gerhardt CA. Characteristics of Critically Ill Infants at the End of Life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. J Palliat Med 2023; 26:674-683. [PMID: 36480799 PMCID: PMC11079611 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: About 16,000 infants die in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) each year with many experiencing invasive medical treatments and high number of symptoms.1 To inform better management, we characterized diagnoses, symptoms, and patterns of care among infants who died in the NICU. Method: Retrospective electronic medical record (EMR) review of 476 infants who died following admission to a large regional level IV NICU in the United States over a 10-year period. Demographic, symptom, diagnosis, treatment, and end-of-life characteristics were extracted. Results: About half of infants were male (55.9%, n = 266), average gestational age was 31.3 weeks (standard deviation [SD] = 6.5), and average age at death was 40.1 days (SD = 84.5; median = 12; range: 0-835). Race was documented for 65% of infants, and most were White (67.0%). One-third of infants (n = 138) were seen by fetal medicine. Most infants experienced pain through both the month and week before death (79.6%), however, infants with necrotizing enterocolitis had more symptoms in the week before death. Based on EMR, infants had more symptoms, and received more medical interventions and comfort measures during the week before death compared with the month prior. Only 35% (n = 166) received a palliative care referral. Conclusions: Although the medical profiles of infants who die in the NICU are complex, the overall number of symptoms was less than in older pediatric populations. For infants at high risk of mortality rate, providers should assess for common symptoms over time. To manage symptoms as effectively as possible, both timely and continuous communication with parents and early referral to palliative care are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A. Fortney
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children, and Youth, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Amy E. Baughcum
- College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio USA
| | - Dana Garcia
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Lisa Humphrey
- College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio USA
| | - Nicole Cistone
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children, and Youth, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Emily L. Moscato
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Madelaine C. Keim
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Leif D. Nelin
- College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Division of Neonatology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio USA
| | - Cynthia A. Gerhardt
- College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- College of Medicine, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio USA
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11
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Kornhauser Cerar L, Lucovnik M. Ethical Dilemmas in Neonatal Care at the Limit of Viability. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:children10050784. [PMID: 37238331 DOI: 10.3390/children10050784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Advances in neonatal care have pushed the limit of viability to incrementally lower gestations over the last decades. However, surviving extremely premature neonates are prone to long-term neurodevelopmental handicaps. This makes ethics a crucial dimension of periviable birth management. At 22 weeks, survival ranges from 1 to 15%, and profound disabilities in survivors are common. Consequently, there is no beneficence-based obligation to offer any aggressive perinatal management. At 23 weeks, survival ranges from 8 to 54%, and survival without severe handicap ranges from 7 to 23%. If fetal indication for cesarean delivery appears, the procedure may be offered when neonatal resuscitation is planned. At a gestational age ≥24 weeks, up to 51% neonates are expected to survive the neonatal period. Survival without profound neurologic disability ranges from 12 to 38%. Beneficence-based obligation to intervene is reasonable at these gestations. Nevertheless, autonomy of parents should also be respected, and parental consent should be sought prior to any intervention. Optimal counselling of parents involves harmonized cooperation of obstetric and neonatal care providers. Every fetus/neonate and every pregnant woman are different and have the right to be considered individually when treatment decisions are being made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilijana Kornhauser Cerar
- Department of Perinatology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Zaloska 11, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Lucovnik
- Department of Perinatology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Zaloska 11, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov Trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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12
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Salazar EG, Handley SC, Greenberg LT, Edwards EM, Lorch SA. Association Between Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Type and Quality of Care in Moderate and Late Preterm Infants. JAMA Pediatr 2023; 177:278-285. [PMID: 36648939 PMCID: PMC9857785 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Importance A higher level of care improves outcomes in extremely and very preterm infants, yet the impact of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) level on moderate and late preterm (MLP) care quality is unknown. Objective To examine the association between NICU type and care quality in MLP (30-36 weeks' gestation) and extremely and very preterm (25-29 weeks' gestation) infants. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study was a prospective analysis of 433 814 premature infants born in 465 US hospitals between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020, without anomalies and who survived more than 12 hours and were transferred no more than once. Data were from the Vermont Oxford Network all NICU admissions database. Exposures NICU types were defined as units with ventilation restrictions without surgery (type A with restrictions, similar to American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP] level 2 NICUs), without surgery (type A) and with surgery not requiring cardiac bypass (type B, similar to AAP level 3 NICUs), and with all surgery (type C, similar to AAP level 4 NICUs). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was gestational age (GA)-specific composite quality measures using Baby-Measure of Neonatal Intensive Care Outcomes Research (Baby-MONITOR) for extremely and very preterm infants and an adapted MLP quality measure for MLP infants. Secondary outcomes were individual component measures of each scale. Composite scores were standardized observed minus expected scores, adjusted for patient characteristics, averaged, and expressed with a mean of 0 and SD of 1. Between May 2021 and October 2022, Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare scores by NICU type. Results Among the 376 219 MLP (204 181 [54.3%] male, 172 038 [45.7%] female; mean [SD] GA, 34.2 [1.7] weeks) and 57 595 extremely and very preterm (30 173 [52.4%] male, 27 422 [47.6%] female; mean [SD] GA, 27.7 [1.4] weeks) infants included, 6.6% received care in type A NICUs with restrictions, 29.3% in type A NICUs without restrictions, 39.7% in type B NICUs, and 24.4% in type C NICUs. The MLP infants had lower MLP-QM scores in type C NICUs (median [IQR]: type A with restrictions, 0.4 [-0.1 to 0.8]; type A, 0.4 [-0.4 to 0.9]; type B, 0.1 [-0.7 to 0.7]; type C, -0.7 [-1.6 to 0.4]; P < .001). No significant differences were found in extremely and very preterm Baby-MONITOR scores by NICU type. In type C NICUs, MLP infants had lower scores in no extreme length of stay and change-in-weight z score. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, composite quality scores were lower for MLP infants in type C NICUs, whereas extremely and very preterm composite quality scores were similar across NICU types. Policies facilitating care for MLP infants at NICUs with less complex subspecialty services may improve care quality delivered to this prevalent, at-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth G. Salazar
- Division of Neonatology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sara C. Handley
- Division of Neonatology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Lucy T. Greenberg
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Vermont, Burlington
| | - Erika M. Edwards
- Vermont Oxford Network, Burlington, Vermont
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Vermont, Burlington
- Department of Pediatrics, The Robert Larner, MD College of Medicine, The University of Vermont, Burlington
| | - Scott A. Lorch
- Division of Neonatology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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13
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Michael H, Cui Y, Lorch SA, Tchetgen Tchetgen EJ. Instrumental Variable Estimation of Marginal Structural Mean Models for Time-Varying Treatment. J Am Stat Assoc 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/01621459.2023.2183131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Haben Michael
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts
| | - Yifan Cui
- Center for Data Science, Zhejiang University
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14
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Aziz KB, Schles EM, Makker K, Wynn JL. Frequency of Acute Kidney Injury and Association With Mortality Among Extremely Preterm Infants. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2246327. [PMID: 36512358 PMCID: PMC9856227 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.46327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI) is common and associated with morbidity and mortality. The temporal relationship between AKI and critical illness, as well as the frequency of AKI definition components (urine output and serum creatinine [sCr] concentration change), are unknown in extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) (<1000 g), extremely preterm (<29 weeks' completed gestational age [GA]) infants. OBJECTIVE To measure the frequency of AKI from birth to death or discharge with attention to the definition components as well as the temporal relationship of AKI to critical illness and death. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A single-center, multiyear, retrospective cohort study was conducted at an academic level IV neonatal intensive care unit between January 1, 2012, and January 1, 2020. Participants included inborn ELBW and infants at 22 to 28 weeks' completed GA with confirmed congenital anomalies who survived 12 hours or more. EXPOSURES Extremely preterm birth and ELBW. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was AKI frequency. The timing, severity, and criteria for AKI were measured. The temporal relationship between AKI, organ dysfunction, and outcomes were quantified using odds ratios (ORs), logistic regression, and Shapley Additive Explanations. Acute kidney injury recognition, imaging, pediatric nephrology consultation, and follow-up were determined. RESULTS A total of 436 infants (52% male; 44% Black) met the inclusion criteria (median BW, 725 g; median GA, 25.7 wk). Acute kidney injury was common in the first week of life (44%), primarily based on the change in the sCr concentration criterion (88%), and negatively associated with GA (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.60-0.78), but positively associated with antecedent critical illness (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.12-1.23), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.12-3.08), late-onset sepsis (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02-1.03), and mortality (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.63-4.72). Acute kidney injury had negligible clinical contribution to death within the model (Shapley Additive Explanation, <0.5% change to outcome) relative to antecedent patient-concentration organ dysfunction (6%-15% change). Among infants with severe AKI, recognition (32%), nephrology inpatient consultation (16%), and outpatient follow-up (9%) were not common. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study of ELBW infants, AKI was common in the first week of life, inversely associated with GA, and followed organ (primarily cardiovascular) dysfunction. Acute kidney injury considered as the primary pathway to mortality was rare, and amelioration of AKI to modify death was not well supported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khyzer B. Aziz
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Eric M. Schles
- Johns Hopkins Technology and Innovation Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kartikeya Makker
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - James L. Wynn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville
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15
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Perinatal outcomes for rural obstetric patients and neonates in rural-located and metropolitan-located hospitals. J Perinatol 2022; 42:1600-1606. [PMID: 35963889 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-022-01490-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare rural obstetric patient and neonate characteristics and outcomes by birth location. METHODS Retrospective observational cohort study of rural residents' hospital births from California, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. Hospitals in rural counties were rural-located, those in metropolitan counties with ≥10% of obstetric patients from rural communities were rural-serving, metropolitan-located, others were non-rural-serving, metropolitan-located. Any adverse obstetric patient or neonatal outcomes were assessed with logistic regression accounting for patient characteristics, state, year, and hospital. RESULTS Of 466,896 rural patient births, 64.3% occurred in rural-located, 22.5% in rural-serving, metropolitan-located, and 13.1% in non-rural-serving, metropolitan-located hospitals. The odds of any adverse outcome increased in rural-serving (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10-1.46) and non-rural-serving (aOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.18-1.55) metropolitan-located hospitals. CONCLUSION One-third of rural obstetric patients received care in metropolitan-located hospitals. These patients have higher comorbidity rates and higher odds of adverse outcomes likely reflecting referral for higher baseline illness severity.
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16
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Zhao A, Lee Y, Small DS, Karmakar B. Evidence factors from multiple, possibly invalid, instrumental variables. Ann Stat 2022. [DOI: 10.1214/21-aos2148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anqi Zhao
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, National University of Singapore
| | - Youjin Lee
- Department of Biostatistics, Brown University
| | - Dylan S. Small
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, University of Pennsylvania
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17
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Regionalization of neonatal care: benefits, barriers, and beyond. J Perinatol 2022; 42:835-838. [PMID: 35461330 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-022-01404-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The goal of regionalization of neonatal care is to improve infant outcomes by directing patients to hospitals where risk-appropriate care is available. Although evidence shows that regionalized, risk-appropriate neonatal care decreases mortality, especially for high-risk infants, the approach and success of regionalization efforts in the U.S. and around the world is highly variable. Barriers to regionalization exist on the patient, provider, hospital, state, and national levels, which highlight potential opportunities to improve regionalization efforts. Improving neonatal regionalized care delivery requires a collaborative approach inclusive of all stakeholders from patients to national professional organizations, expansion and adaptation of current policies, changes to financial incentives, cross-state collaboration, support of national policies, and partnership between neonatal and obstetric communities to promote comprehensive, regionalized perinatal care.
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18
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Understanding the relative contributions of prematurity and congenital anomalies to neonatal mortality. J Perinatol 2022; 42:569-573. [PMID: 35034095 PMCID: PMC9098660 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-021-01298-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the relative contributions of preterm delivery and congenital anomalies to neonatal mortality. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of 2009-2011 linked birth cohort-hospital discharge files for California, Missouri, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Deaths were classified by gestational age and three definitions of congenital anomaly: any ICD-9 code for an anomaly, any anomaly with a significant mortality risk, and anomalies recorded on the death certificate. RESULT In total, 59% of the deaths had an ICD-9 code for an anomaly, only 43% had a potentially fatal anomaly, and only 34% had a death certificate anomaly. Preterm infants (<37 weeks GA) accounted for 80% of deaths; those preterm infants without a potentially fatal anomaly diagnosis comprised 53% of all neonatal deaths. The share of preterm deaths with a potentially fatal anomaly decreases with GA. CONCLUSION Congenital anomalies are responsible for about 40% of neonatal deaths while preterm without anomalies are responsible for over 50%.
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19
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Sabsabi B, Huet C, Rampakakis E, Beltempo M, Brown R, Lodygensky GA, Piedboeuf B, Wintermark P. Asphyxiated Neonates Treated with Hypothermia: Birth Place Matters. Am J Perinatol 2022; 39:298-306. [PMID: 32854133 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1715823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess whether the hospital level of care where asphyxiated neonates treated with hypothermia were originally born influences their outcome. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all asphyxiated neonates treated with hypothermia in a large metropolitan area. Birth hospitals were categorized based on provincially predefined levels of care. Primary outcome was defined as death and/or brain injury on brain magnetic resonance imaging (adverse outcome) and was compared according to the hospital level of care. RESULTS The overall incidence of asphyxiated neonates treated with hypothermia significantly decreased as hospital level of care increased: 1 per 1,000 live births (109/114,627) in level I units; 0.9 per 1,000 live births (73/84,890) in level II units; and 0.7 per 1,000 live births (51/71,093) in level III units (p < 0.001). The rate of emergent cesarean sections and the initial pH within the first hour of life were significantly lower in level I and level II units compared with level III units (respectively, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). In a multivariable analysis adjusting for the rates of emergent cesarean sections and initial pH within the first hour of life, being born in level I units was confirmed as an independent predictor of adverse outcome (adjusted odds ratio [OR] level I vs. level III 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.13 [1.02-4.43], p = 0.04) and brain injury (adjusted OR level I vs. level III 95% CI: 2.41 [1.12-5.22], p = 0.02). CONCLUSION Asphyxiated neonates born in level I units and transferred for hypothermia treatment were less often born by emergent cesarean sections, had worse pH values within the first hour of life, and had a higher incidence of adverse outcome and brain injury compared with neonates born in level III units. Further work is needed to optimize the initial management of these neonates to improve outcomes, regardless of the location of their hospital of birth. KEY POINTS · The incidence of asphyxiated neonates treated with hypothermia varied by hospital level of care.. · Their rates of emergent cesarean sections and their initial pH within the first hour of life varied by hospital level of care.. · The hospital level of care was an independent predictor of their adverse outcome, defined as death and/or brain injury on brain MRI..
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Affiliation(s)
- Bayane Sabsabi
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Cloe Huet
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Emmanouil Rampakakis
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.,Medical Affairs, JSS Medical Research, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc Beltempo
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Richard Brown
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gregory A Lodygensky
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Bruno Piedboeuf
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Centre of the CHU de Québec, University Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Pia Wintermark
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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20
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Lavilla OC, Aziz KB, Lure AC, Gipson D, de la Cruz D, Wynn JL. Hourly Kinetics of Critical Organ Dysfunction in Extremely Preterm Infants. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022; 205:75-87. [PMID: 34550843 PMCID: PMC8865589 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202106-1359oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Use of severity of illness scores to classify patients for clinical care and research is common outside of the neonatal ICU. Extremely premature (<29 weeks' gestation) infants with extremely low birth weight (<1,000 g) experience significant mortality and develop severe pathology during the protracted birth hospitalization. Objectives: To measure at high resolution the changes in organ dysfunction that occur from birth to death or discharge home by gestational age and time, and among extremely preterm infants with and without clinically meaningful outcomes using the neonatal sequential organ failure assessment score. Methods: A single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study of inborn, extremely preterm infants with extremely low birth weight admitted between January 2012 and January 2020. Neonatal sequential organ failure assessment scores were calculated every hour for every patient from admission until death or discharge. Measurements and Main Results: Longitudinal, granular scores from 436 infants demonstrated early and sustained discrimination of those who died versus those who survived to discharge. The discrimination for mortality by the maximum score was excellent (area under curve, 0.91; 95% confidence intervals, 0.88-0.94). Among survivors with and without adverse outcomes, most score variation occurred at the patient level. The weekly average score over the first 28 days was associated with the sum of adverse outcomes at discharge. Conclusions: The neonatal sequential organ failure assessment score discriminates between survival and nonsurvival on the first day of life. The major contributor to score variation occurred at the patient level. There was a direct association between scores and major adverse outcomes, including death.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Khyzer B. Aziz
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - James L. Wynn
- Department of Pediatrics and,Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida; and
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21
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Kunz SN, Helkey D, Zitnik M, Phibbs CS, Rigdon J, Zupancic JAF, Profit J. Quantifying the variation in neonatal transport referral patterns using network analysis. J Perinatol 2021; 41:2795-2803. [PMID: 34035453 PMCID: PMC8613294 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-021-01091-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Regionalized care reduces neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated the association of patient characteristics with quantitative differences in neonatal transport networks. STUDY DESIGN We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data for infants <28 days of age acutely transported within California from 2008 to 2012. We generated graphs representing bidirectional transfers between hospitals, stratified by patient attribute, and compared standard network analysis metrics. RESULT We analyzed 34,708 acute transfers, representing 1594 unique transfer routes between 271 hospitals. Density, centralization, efficiency, and modularity differed significantly among networks drawn based on different infant attributes. Compared to term infants and to those transported for medical reasons, network metrics identify greater degrees of regionalization for preterm and surgical patients (more centralized and less dense, respectively [p < 0.001]). CONCLUSION Neonatal interhospital transport networks differ by patient attributes as reflected by differences in network metrics, suggesting that regionalization should be considered in the context of a multidimensional system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N. Kunz
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Department of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel Helkey
- Department of Pediatrics – Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA,California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Marinka Zitnik
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ciaran S. Phibbs
- Department of Pediatrics – Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA,Health Economics Resource Center, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare Systm, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - Joseph Rigdon
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - John A. F. Zupancic
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Department of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jochen Profit
- Department of Pediatrics – Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA,California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, California, USA
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22
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Ashokcoomar† P, Bhagwan R. The neonatal transfer process through the lens of neonatologists at public hospitals in South Africa. Health SA 2021. [DOI: 10.4102/hsag.v26i0.1617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
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Handley SC, Passarella M, Herrick HM, Interrante JD, Lorch SA, Kozhimannil KB, Phibbs CS, Foglia EE. Birth Volume and Geographic Distribution of US Hospitals With Obstetric Services From 2010 to 2018. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2125373. [PMID: 34623408 PMCID: PMC8501399 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.25373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Timely access to clinically appropriate obstetric services is critical to the provision of high-quality perinatal care. OBJECTIVE To examine the geographic distribution, proximity, and urban adjacency of US obstetric hospitals by annual birth volume. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective population-based cohort study identified US hospitals with obstetric services using the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey of Hospitals and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid provider of services data from 2010 to 2018. Obstetric hospitals with 10 or more births per year were included in the study. Data analysis was performed from November 6, 2020, to April 5, 2021. EXPOSURE Hospital birth volume, defined by annual birth volume categories of 10 to 500, 501 to 1000, 1001 to 2000, and more than 2000 births. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Outcomes assessed by birth volume category were percentage of births (from annual AHA data), number of hospitals, geographic distribution of hospitals among states, proximity between obstetric hospitals, and urban adjacency defined by urban influence codes, which classify counties by population size and adjacency to a metropolitan area. RESULTS The study included 26 900 hospital-years of data from 3207 distinct US hospitals with obstetric services, reflecting 34 054 951 associated births. Most infants (19 327 487 [56.8%]) were born in hospitals with more than 2000 births/y, and 2 528 259 (7.4%) were born in low-volume (10-500 births/y) hospitals. More than one-third of obstetric hospitals (37.4%; 10 064 hospital-years) were low volume. A total of 46 states had obstetric hospitals in all volume categories. Among low-volume hospitals, 18.9% (1904 hospital-years) were not within 30 miles of any other obstetric hospital and 23.9% (2400 hospital-years) were within 30 miles of a hospital with more than 2000 deliveries/y. Isolated hospitals (those without another obstetric hospital within 30 miles) were more frequently low volume, with 58.4% (1112 hospital-years) located in noncore rural areas. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study, marked variations were found in birth volume, geographic distribution, proximity, and urban adjacency among US obstetric hospitals from 2010 to 2018. The findings related to geographic isolation and rural-urban distribution of low-volume obstetric hospitals suggest the need to balance proximity with volume to optimize effective referral and access to high-quality perinatal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C. Handley
- Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Molly Passarella
- Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Heidi M. Herrick
- Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Julia D. Interrante
- Division of Health Policy & Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis
| | - Scott A. Lorch
- Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Katy B. Kozhimannil
- Division of Health Policy & Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis
| | - Ciaran S. Phibbs
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Elizabeth E. Foglia
- Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Aziz KB, Lavilla OC, Wynn JL, Lure AC, Gipson D, de la Cruz D. Maximum vasoactive-inotropic score and mortality in extremely premature, extremely low birth weight infants. J Perinatol 2021; 41:2337-2344. [PMID: 33712712 PMCID: PMC8435049 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-021-01030-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the relationship between maximum vasoactive-inotropic (VISmax) and mortality in extremely premature (<29 weeks completed gestation), extremely low birth weight (ELBW, <1000 g) infants. STUDY DESIGN Single center, retrospective, and observational cohort study. RESULTS We identified 436 ELBW, <29 week, inborn infants cared for during the study period. Compared to infants with VISmax of 0, the frequency of mortality based on VISmax ranged from 3.3-fold to 46.1-fold. VISmax > 30 was associated with universal mortality. Multivariable modeling that included gestational age, birth weight, and VISmax revealed significant utility to predict mortality with negative predictive value of 87.0% and positive predictive value of 84.8% [adjusted AUROC: 0.90, (0.86-0.94)] among patients that received vasoactive-inotropic treatment. CONCLUSION VISmax is an objective measure of hemodynamic/cardiovascular support that was directly associated with mortality in extremely premature ELBW infants. The VISmax represents an important step towards neonatal precision medicine and risk stratification of extremely premature ELBW infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khyzer B. Aziz
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Orlyn C. Lavilla
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - James L. Wynn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida,Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Allison C. Lure
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Daniel Gipson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Diomel de la Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Association of outborn versus inborn birth status on the in-hospital outcomes of neonates treated with therapeutic hypothermia: A propensity score-weighted cohort study. Resuscitation 2021; 167:82-88. [PMID: 34425153 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2021.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the risk of in-hospital mortality and morbidity between outborn and inborn neonates treated with whole body hypothermia. METHODS The association of outborn birth status with in-hospital mortality and morbidity, prior to NICU discharge or transfer, was assessed in a large historical cohort of neonates who had therapeutic hypothermia initiated on the day of birth. The cohort was restricted to neonates born at ≥35 weeks gestational age from 2007 to 2018. Since the sample was non-random, inverse probability weighting (IPW) derived from propensity scores was used to reduce imbalance in baseline maternal and neonatal characteristics between outborn and inborn neonates. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the association between outborn status and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS There were 4447 neonates included in the study (2463 outborn). Outborn status was not significantly associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality in the unadjusted cohort (HR = 1.17, 95% CI 0.97-1.42, p = 0.10) or IPW cohort (HR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.95-1.26, p = 0.22). However, in the IPW cohort, outborn neonates were significantly more likely to have seizures (28% vs 24%, p = 0.006), anticonvulsant exposure (46% vs 41%, p = 0.002), and gastrostomy tube placement (5.8% vs 3.8%, p = 0.009) during their newborn hospitalization. CONCLUSION Outborn status was not significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality among neonates treated with whole body hypothermia. However, outborn neonates were more likely to have seizures, receive anticonvulsant treatment, and undergo gastrostomy tube placement. Further study is needed to better understand the etiologies of these outcome disparities and potential implications for long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Abstract
The regionalization of neonatal care was implemented with an overarching goal to improve neonatal outcomes.1 This led to centralized neonatal care in urban settings that jeopardized the sustainability of the community level 2 and level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in medically underserved areas.2 Coupled with pediatric subspecialist and allied health professional workforce shortages, regionalization resulted in disparate and limited access to subspecialty care.3-6 Innovative telemedicine technologies may offer an alternative and powerful care model for infants in geographically isolated and underserved areas. This chapter describes how telemedicine offerings of remote pediatric subspecialty and specialized programs may bridge gaps of access to specialized care and maintain the clinical services in community NICUs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer Azzuqa
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Abhishek Makkar
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Kerri Machut
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Chang YS, Liang FW, Lin YJ, Lu TH, Lin CH. Neonatal and infant mortality of very-low-birth-weight infants in Taiwan: Does the level of delivery hospital matter? Pediatr Neonatol 2021; 62:419-427. [PMID: 34020899 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To study the distribution of the birthplaces of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants and examine whether delivery at different levels of hospital affects neonatal and infant mortality. METHODS This population-based cohort study was retrieved from Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database. Livebirth singleton VLBW infants born between 2011 and 2014, with BW between 500 and 1499 g and gestational age ≥22 weeks were enrolled. The main outcomes were risk-adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of neonatal and infant mortality by birthplace, which was categorized as medical center (MC), regional hospital (RH), district hospital (DH), and clinic (C) based on Taiwan's hospital accreditation system. RESULTS Of 4560 VLBW infants enrolled, 3005 (66%) were born in MCs, 1181 (26%) in RHs, 213 (5%) in DHs, and 161 (4%) in Cs. Neonatal mortality rates were 10%, 15%, 16%, 17%, and infant mortality rates were 13%, 17%, 18%, 21%, if born in MCs, RHs, DHs and Cs, respectively. The aORs for neonatal and infant mortality were 1.94 (95% CI 1.53-2.48) and 1.67 (1.34-2.08) for those born in RHs, 2.26 (1.38-3.70) and 1.82 (1.16-2.86) for infants born in DHs/Cs, as compared to those born in MCs. For VLBW infants born in RHs, DHs, and Cs and postnatally transferred to MCs, the aORs of neonatal and infant mortality were lower than those who were not transferred. CONCLUSION VLBW infants born outside of MCs had higher neonatal and infant mortality and a two-fold higher risk of mortality than those born in MCs. When possible, VLBW infants should be born in MCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shan Chang
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Wen Liang
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yuh-Jyh Lin
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsueh Lu
- NCKU Research Center for Health Data and Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chyi-Her Lin
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Handley SC, Passarella M, Srinivas SK, Lorch SA. Identifying individual hospital levels of maternal care using administrative data. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:538. [PMID: 34074286 PMCID: PMC8171026 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06516-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The goal of regionalized perinatal care, specifically levels of maternal care, is to improve maternal outcomes through risk-appropriate obstetric care. Studies of levels of maternal care are limited by current approaches to identify a hospital's level of care, often relying on hospital self-reported data, which is expensive and challenging to collect and validate. The study objective was to develop an empiric approach to determine a hospital's level of maternal care using administrative data reflective of the patient care provided and apply this approach to describe the levels of maternal care available over time. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of mother-infant dyads who delivered in California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania hospitals from 2000 to 2009. Linked mother-infant administrative records with an infant born at 24-44 weeks' gestation and a birth weight of 400-8000 g were included. Using the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine descriptions of levels of maternal care, four levels were classified based on the appropriate location of care for patients with specific medical or pregnancy conditions. Individual hospitals were assigned a level of maternal care annually based on the volume of patients who delivered reflective of the four classified levels as determined by International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology. RESULTS Based on the included 6,895,000 mother-infant dyads, the obstetric hospital levels of maternal care I, II, III and IV were identified. High-risk patients more frequently delivered in hospitals with higher level maternal care, accounting for 8.9, 10.9, 13.8, and 16.9% of deliveries in level I, II, III and IV hospitals, respectively. The total number of obstetric hospitals decreased over the study period, while the proportion of hospitals with high-level (level III or IV) maternal care increased. High-level hospitals were located in more densely populated areas. CONCLUSION Identification of the level of maternal care, independent of hospital self-reported variables, is feasible using administrative data. This empiric approach, which accounts for changes in hospitals over time, is a valuable framework for perinatal researchers and other stakeholders to inexpensively identify measurable benefits of levels of maternal care and characterize where specific patient populations receive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C Handley
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine-University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Molly Passarella
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine-University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sindhu K Srinivas
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,The Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Perelman School of Medicine-University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Scott A Lorch
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine-University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Lorch SA, Rogowski J, Profit J, Phibbs CS. Access to risk-appropriate hospital care and disparities in neonatal outcomes in racial/ethnic groups and rural-urban populations. Semin Perinatol 2021; 45:151409. [PMID: 33931237 PMCID: PMC8184635 DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2021.151409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Variations in infant and neonatal mortality continue to persist in the United States and in other countries based on both socio-demographic characteristics, such as race and ethnicity, and geographic location. One potential driver of these differences is variations in access to risk-appropriate delivery care. The purpose of this article is to present the importance of delivery hospitals on neonatal outcomes, discuss variation in access to these hospitals for high-risk infants and their mothers, and to provide insight into drivers for differences in access to high-quality perinatal care using the available literature. This review also illustrates the lack of information on a number of topics that are crucial to the development of evidence-based interventions to improve access to appropriate delivery hospital services and thus optimize the outcomes of high-risk mothers and their newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Lorch
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Neonatology,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | | | - Jochen Profit
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal Medicine
| | - Ciaran S. Phibbs
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal Medicine,Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System
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30
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Abstract
Advances in neonatal intensive care have improved outcomes for preterm newborns, but significant racial/ethnic disparities persist. Neonatal disparities have their origin in a complex set of factors that include systemic racism and structural disadvantages endured by minority families, but differential quality of care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) remains an important and modifiable source of disparity. NICU care has been shown to be segregated and unequal: Black and Hispanic infants are more likely to be cared for in lower quality NICUs and may receive worse care within a NICU. To eliminate disparities in care and outcomes, it is important to identify and address the mechanisms that lead to lower quality care for minority preterm infants. In this review, we identify improvements in both technical (clinical) and relational (engaging and supporting families) processes of care as critical to better outcomes for minority infants and families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhurjati Ravi
- Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| | - Alexandra Iacob
- Division of Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jochen Profit
- Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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31
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Pu H, Zhang B. Estimating optimal treatment rules with an instrumental variable: A partial identification learning approach. J R Stat Soc Series B Stat Methodol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rssb.12413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Bo Zhang
- University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Telehealth in neonatology is a rapidly expanding modality for providing care to neonatal patient populations. In this review, we describe the most recent published innovations in neonatal telehealth, spanning the neonatal ICU (NICU), community/rural hospitals and the patient's home. RECENT FINDINGS Telemedicine for neonatal subspecialty care has continued to expand, from well established uses in retinopathy of prematurity screening and tele-echocardiography, to applications in genetics and neurology. Within the NICU itself, neonatologist-led remote rounding has been shown to be a feasible method of increasing access to expert care for neonates in rural hospitals. Telehealth has improved parental and caregiver education, eased the NICU-to-home transition experience and expanded access to lactation services for rural mothers. Telemedicine-assisted neonatal resuscitation has improved the quality of resuscitation and reduced unnecessary neonatal transports to higher levels of care. Finally, the global COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the expansion of neonatal telehealth. SUMMARY Telehealth provides increased access to expert neonatal care and improves patient outcomes, while reducing the cost of care for neonates in diverse settings. Continued high-quality investigation of the impacts of telehealth on patient outcomes and healthcare systems is critical to the continued development of neonatal telemedicine best practices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelli Lund
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Trang Huynh
- Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
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House SA, Singh N, Wasserman JR, Kim Y, Ganduglia-Cazaban C, Goodman DC. Small-Area Variation in the Care of Low-Risk Neonates in Massachusetts and Texas. Hosp Pediatr 2020; 10:1059-1067. [PMID: 33214138 DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2020-000687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The success of neonatal intensive care in improving outcomes for critically ill neonates led to rapid growth of NICU use in the United States, despite a relatively stable birth cohort. Less is known about NICU use among late-preterm and term infants, although recent studies have observed wide variation in their care patterns. In this study, we measure special care days (SCDs) (intermediate or intensive), length of stay, and readmission rates among low-risk neonates across regions within 2 states. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from Massachusetts (all payer claims) and Texas (BlueCross BlueShield) from 2009 to 2012. A low-risk cohort was defined by identifying newborns with diagnostic codes indicating a gestational age ≥35 weeks and birth weight ≥1500 g and excluding infants with diagnoses and procedures generally necessitating nonroutine care. Outcomes were measured across neonatal intensive care regions by diagnosis and payer type. RESULTS We identified 255 311 low-risk newborns. SCD use varied nearly sixfold across neonatal intensive care regions. Use was highest among commercially insured Texas infants (8.42 per 100), followed by Medicaid-insured Massachusetts infants (6.67 per 100) and commercially insured Massachusetts infants (5.15 per 100). Coefficients of variation indicated high variation within each payer-specific cohort and moderate to high variation across each condition. No consistent relationship between regional SCD use and 30-day readmissions was identified. CONCLUSIONS Use of NICU services varied widely across regions in this cohort of low-risk infants. Further investigation is needed to delineate outcomes associated with patterns of care received by this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha A House
- Department of Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; .,Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Lebanon, New Hampshire.,The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire; and
| | - Neetu Singh
- Department of Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.,Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Lebanon, New Hampshire.,The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire; and
| | - Jared R Wasserman
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire; and
| | - Youngran Kim
- Division of Management, Policy and Community Health, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Cecilia Ganduglia-Cazaban
- Division of Management, Policy and Community Health, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - David C Goodman
- Department of Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.,The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, New Hampshire; and
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Abstract
Regionalization, which emphasizes matching patient needs with the capabilities of the hospital in which care is provided, has long been a recommended approach to reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality. Over the past decade, research methods surrounding the measurement and evaluation of such programs have improved, thus strengthening arguments for implementation of these strategies. However, regionalization policies vary widely across regions and between countries, with potential impacts on neonatal outcomes as well as costs of care. It is important to account for geographic and other regional differences when determining the feasibility of regionalization for a specific region, as certain areas and populations may need particular consideration in order for regionalization policies to be successful.
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Murosko D, Passerella M, Lorch S. Racial Segregation and Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Preterm Infants. Pediatrics 2020; 145:e20191508. [PMID: 32381625 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-1508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) disproportionately affects black neonates. Other conditions that are more common in black neonates, including low birth weight and preterm delivery, have been linked with residential racial segregation (RRS). In this study, we investigated the association between RRS and IVH. METHODS A retrospective cohort of neonates born between 24 and 32 weeks' gestation was constructed by using birth certificates linked to medical records from California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania between 1995 and 2009. Dissimilarity, a measure of RRS indicating the proportion of minorities in the census tract of the mother in comparison to the larger metropolitan area, was linked to patient data, yielding a cohort of 70 775 infants. Propensity score analysis matched infants born to mothers living in high segregation to those living in less segregated areas on the basis of race, sociodemographic factors, and medical comorbidities to compare the risk of developing IVH. RESULTS Infants born to mothers in the most segregated quartile had a greater risk of developing IVH compared with those in the lowest quartile (12.9% vs 10.4%; P < .001). In 17 918 pairs matched on propensity scores, the risk of developing IVH was greater in the group exposed to a segregated environment (risk ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.15). This effect was stronger for black infants alone (risk ratio = 1.16; 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.30). CONCLUSIONS RRS is associated with an increased risk of IVH in preterm neonates, but the effect size varies by race. This association persists after balancing for community factors and birth weight, representing a novel risk factor for IVH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Murosko
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | - Molly Passerella
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Scott Lorch
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Abstract
Optimal perinatal regionalization is a proven evidence-based strategy to lower infant mortality. Telemedicine can engage community stakeholders, providers, and patients to facilitate optimal perinatal regionalization leading to lower infant mortality. Rural community caregivers and administrators can participate in forming optimal perinatal guidelines without leaving their community. The visual picture created by telemedicine facilitates better transport decisions; ensuring infants who are transferred to larger centers truly need it while supporting smaller nurseries by providing better consultation services and back transport of patients when appropriate. Telemedicine can also provide educational opportunities to community practices, leading to better evidence-based care.
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Scope of telemedicine in neonatology. ZHONGGUO DANG DAI ER KE ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PEDIATRICS 2020. [PMID: 32434631 PMCID: PMC7389396 DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2001135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
There is a widespread shortage of physicians worldwide, especially in rural areas. This shortage is more prevalent when it comes to subspecialty care, even in developed countries. One way to provide access to specialty care is using technology via telemedicine. Telemedicine has evolved over the last two decades, and its use is becoming widespread in developed countries. However, its use in the neonatal population is still limited and practiced only in some centers. It is now apparent that telemedicine can be successfully used in the neonatal population for screening premature infants for retinopathy of prematurity, congenital heart disease, bedside clinical rounds, neonatal resuscitation with the support of a tertiary care hospital, and family support. This avoids unnecessary transfer and appears to provide the same quality of care that the baby would have received at the tertiary care facility. This approach also improves family satisfaction, as the baby and the mother are kept together, and reduces the cost of care. This review focuses on the use of telemedicine in neonatal care, concentrating on the main areas where telemedicine has been shown to be successful and effective, including the status of telemedicine in China.
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Prematurity and race account for much of the interstate variation in infant mortality rates in the United States. J Perinatol 2020; 40:767-773. [PMID: 32152491 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-020-0640-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the correlation between infant mortality and extreme prematurity by state. STUDY DESIGN This ecological study included data on 28,526,534 infants from 2007 to 2013 in all 50 US states and DC using CDC WONDER linked birth and infant death records. Regression analyses determined the correlation between infant and neonatal mortality rates and the proportion of extremely preterm, extremely low birth weight, and black births by state. RESULTS State infant and neonatal mortality rates were directly and highly correlated with the proportion of extremely preterm births (infant, r2 = 0.71, P < 0.001; neonatal, r2 = 0.77, P < 0.001) and extremely low birth weight births (r2 = 0.63, P < 0.001; r2 = 0.73, P < 0.001). The proportion of black births also correlated directly with infant and neonatal mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS Interstate variation in infant and neonatal mortality rates are primarily driven by rates of extremely preterm and extremely low birth weight births which is closely related to the proportion of black births.
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Cushing AM, Bucholz E, Michelson KA. Trends in Regionalization of Emergency Care for Common Pediatric Conditions. Pediatrics 2020; 145:peds.2019-2989. [PMID: 32169895 PMCID: PMC7236317 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-2989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For children who cannot be discharged from the emergency department, definitive care has become less frequent at most hospitals. It is uncertain whether this is true for common conditions that do not require specialty care. We sought to determine how the likelihood of definitive care has changed for 3 common pediatric conditions: asthma, croup, and gastroenteritis. METHODS We used the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample database to study children <18 years old presenting to emergency departments in the United States from 2008 to 2016 with a primary diagnosis of asthma, croup, or gastroenteritis, excluding critically ill patients. The primary outcome was referral rate: the number of patients transferred among all patients who could not be discharged. Analyses were stratified by quartile of annual pediatric volume. We used logistic regression to determine if changes over time in demographics or comorbidities could account for referral rate changes. RESULTS Referral rates increased for each condition in all volume quartiles. Referral rates were greatest in the lowest pediatric volume quartile. Referral rates in the lowest pediatric volume quartile increased for asthma (13.6% per year; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.6%-22.2%), croup (14.8% per year; 95% CI 2.6%-28.3%), and gastroenteritis (16.4% per year; 95% CI 3.5%-31.0%). Changes over time in patient age, sex, comorbidities, weekend presentation, payer mix, urban-rural location of presentation, or area income did not account for these findings. CONCLUSIONS Increasing referral rates over time suggest decreasing provision of definitive care and regionalization of inpatient care for 3 common, generally straightforward conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Cushing
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; and .,Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Emily Bucholz
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; and
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Shah KP, deRegnier RAO, Grobman WA, Bennett AC. Neonatal Mortality After Interhospital Transfer of Pregnant Women for Imminent Very Preterm Birth in Illinois. JAMA Pediatr 2020; 174:358-365. [PMID: 32065614 PMCID: PMC7042951 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.6055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Reducing neonatal mortality is a national health care priority. Understanding the association between neonatal mortality and antenatal transfer of pregnant women to a level III perinatal hospital for delivery of infants who are very preterm (VPT) may help identify opportunities for improvement. OBJECTIVE To assess whether antenatal transfer to a level III hospital is associated with neonatal mortality in infants who are VPT. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This population-based cross-sectional study included infants who were born VPT to Illinois residents in Illinois perinatal-network hospitals between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016, and followed up for 28 days after birth. Data analysis was conducted from June 2017 to September 2018. EXPOSURES Delivery of an infant who was VPT at a (1) level III hospital after maternal presentation at that hospital (reference group), (2) a level III hospital after antenatal (in utero) transfer from another hospital, or (3) a non-level III hospital. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Neonatal mortality. RESULTS The study included 4817 infants who were VPT (gestational age, 22-31 completed weeks) and were born to Illinois residents in 2015 and 2016. Of those, 3302 infants (68.5%) were born at a level III hospital after maternal presentation at that hospital, 677 (14.1%) were born at a level III hospital after antenatal transfer, and 838 (17.4%) were born at a non-level III hospital. Neonatal mortality for all infants who were VPT included in this study was 573 of 4817 infants (11.9%). The neonatal mortality was 10.7% for the reference group (362 of 3302 infants), 9.8% for the antenatal transfer group (66 of 677 infants), and 17.3% for the non-level III birth group (145 of 838 infants). When adjusted for significant social and medical characteristics, infants born VPT at a level III hospital after antenatal transfer from another facility had a similar risk of neonatal mortality as infants born at a level III hospital (odds ratio, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.56-1.13]) after maternal presentation at the same hospital. Infants born at a non-level III hospital had an increased risk of neonatal mortality compared with infants born at a level III hospital after maternal presentation to the same hospital (odds ratio, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.14-2.02]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The risk of neonatal mortality was similar for infants who were VPT, whether women initially presented at a level III hospital or were transferred to a level III hospital before delivery. This suggests that the increased risk of mortality associated with delivery at a non-level III hospital may be mitigated by optimizing opportunities for early maternal transfer to a level III hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kshama P. Shah
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Raye-Ann O. deRegnier
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - William A. Grobman
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
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Differential effects of delivery hospital on mortality and morbidity in minority premature and low birth weight neonates. J Perinatol 2020; 40:404-411. [PMID: 31235781 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-019-0423-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe variation in mortality and morbidity effects of high-level, high-volume delivery hospital between racial/ethnic groups and insurance groups. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort including infants born at 24-32 weeks gestation or birth weights ≤2500 g in California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania between 1995 and 2009 (n = 636,764). Multivariable logistic random-effects models determined differential effects of birth hospital level/volume on mortality and morbidity through an interaction term between delivery hospital level/volume and either maternal race or insurance status. RESULT Compared to non-Hispanic white neonates, odds of complications of prematurity were 14-25% lower for minority infants in all gestational age and birth weight cohorts delivering at high-level, high-volume centers (odds ratio (ORs) 0.75-0.86, p < 0.001-0.005). Effect size was greatest for Hispanic infants. No difference was noted by insurance status. CONCLUSIONS Neonates of minority racial/ethnic status derive greater morbidity benefits than non-Hispanic white neonates from delivery at hospitals with high-level, high-volume neonatal intensive care units.
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Mortality and morbidity in outborn extremely low birth weight neonates: a retrospective analysis. J Perinatol 2020; 40:337-343. [PMID: 31700089 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-019-0543-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify differences in morbidity and mortality between inborn versus outborn extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants admitted to the Texas Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). STUDY DESIGN Vermont Oxford Network data were analyzed between January 2014 and December 2017. Inborn versus outborn outcomes were compared. RESULT Of 533 ELBW infants, 402 were inborn, and 131 were outborn. Gestational age and birth weight (BW) were similar. After adjusting outcomes to control for maternal steroids, maternal hypertension, maternal prenatal care, and temperature below 36 °C at admission, no outcomes were significantly different except inborn patients had decreased odds of late onset sepsis (adjusted odds ratio = 0.606, 95% confidence interval: 0.377-0.973, p = 0.038). CONCLUSION In this study, outborn ELBW patients had increased odds of late onset sepsis compared with inborn ELBW patients after controlling for covariates that differed significantly between these two cohorts.
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Fang JL, Mara KC, Weaver AL, Clark RH, Carey WA. Outcomes of outborn extremely preterm neonates admitted to a NICU with respiratory distress. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2020; 105:33-40. [PMID: 31079068 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2018-316244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the risk of mortality and morbidity between outborn and propensity score-matched inborn extremely preterm neonates. SETTING Multiple neonatal intensive care units (NICU) across the USA. PATIENTS Singleton neonates born at 22-29 weeks' gestation with no major anomalies who were admitted to a NICU and discharged between 2000 and 2014. Outborn neonates were restricted to those who transferred into a NICU on the day of birth. METHODS The association between inborn-outborn status and the time-to-event outcomes of in-hospital mortality and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Logistic regression was used to assess the remaining secondary outcomes: retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment (tROP), chronic lung disease (CLD), periventricular leucomalacia (PVL) and severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). Since outborn status was not random, we used 1:1 propensity score matching to reduce the imbalance in illness severity. RESULTS There were 59 942 neonates (7991 outborn) included in the study. Outborn neonates had poorer survival than inborns and higher rates of NEC, severe IVH, tROP and PVL. Inborn-outborn disparities in mortality were reduced over the study period. When analysing the matched cohort (6524 matched pairs), outborns were less likely to die in-hospital compared with inborns (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.91). However, outborns experienced higher rates of NEC (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.25), severe IVH (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.68), tROP (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.69) and CLD (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.24). CONCLUSION Additional research is needed to understand the contributors to increased morbidity for outborn extremely preterm neonates and identify interventions that mitigate this risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Fang
- Division of Neonatal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kristin C Mara
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Amy L Weaver
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Reese H Clark
- CREQS, Pediatrix Medical Group, Sunrise, Florida, USA
| | - William A Carey
- Division of Neonatal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Mújica-Mota RE, Landa P, Pitt M, Allen M, Spencer A. The heterogeneous causal effects of neonatal care: a model of endogenous demand for multiple treatment options based on geographical access to care. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2020; 29:46-60. [PMID: 31746059 DOI: 10.1002/hec.3970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Neonatal units in the UK are organised into three levels, from highest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), to Local Neonatal Unit (LNU) to lowest Special Care Unit (SCU). We model the endogenous treatment selection of neonatal care unit of birth to estimate the average and marginal treatment effects of different neonatal designations on infant mortality, length of stay and hospital costs. We use prognostic factors, survival and hospital care use data on all preterm births in England for 2014-2015, supplemented by national reimbursement tariffs and instrumental variables of travel time from a geographic information system. The data were consistent with a model of demand for preterm birth care driven by physical access. In-hospital mortality of infants born before 32 weeks was 8.5% overall, and 1.2 (95% CI: -0.7, 3.2) percentage points lower for live births in hospitals with NICU or SCU compared to those with an LNU according to instrumental variable estimates. We find imprecise differences in average total hospital costs by unit designation, with positive unobserved selection of those with higher unexplained absolute and incremental costs into NICU. Our results suggest a limited scope for improvement in infant mortality by increasing in-utero transfers based on unit designation alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén E Mújica-Mota
- University of Leeds Medical School, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, Leeds, UK
| | - Paolo Landa
- Department of Economics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Martin Pitt
- University of Exeter Medical School, Institute of Health Research, Exeter, UK
| | - Mike Allen
- University of Exeter Medical School, Institute of Health Research, Exeter, UK
| | - Anne Spencer
- University of Exeter Medical School, Institute of Health Research, Exeter, UK
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Periviability: A Review of Key Concepts and Management for Perinatal Nursing. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2020; 34:146-154. [PMID: 32332444 DOI: 10.1097/jpn.0000000000000473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
One of the most complex clinical problems in obstetrics and neonatology is caring for pregnant women at the threshold of viability. Births near viability boundaries are grave events that carry a high prevalence of neonatal death or an increased potential for severe lifelong complications and disabilities among those who survive. Compared with several decades ago, premature infants receiving neonatal care by today's standards have better outcomes than those born in other eras. However, preterm labor at periviability represents a more complex counseling and management challenge. Although preterm birth incidence between 20/7 and 25/7 weeks has remained unchanged, survival rates at earlier gestational ages have increased as perinatal and neonatal specialties have become more adept at caring for this at-risk population. Women face difficult choices about obstetric and neonatal interventions in light of uncertainties around survival and outcomes. This article reviews current neonatal statistics in reference to short- and long-term outcomes, key concepts in obstetric clinical management of an anticipated periviable birth, and counseling guidance to ensure shared-decision making.
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Re-examining the effect of door-to-balloon delay on STEMI outcomes in the context of unmeasured confounders: a retrospective cohort study. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19978. [PMID: 31882674 PMCID: PMC6934575 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56353-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Literature studying the door-to-balloon time-outcome relation in coronary intervention is limited by the potential of residual biases from unobserved confounders. This study re-examines the time-outcome relation with further consideration of the unobserved factors and reports the population average effect. Adults with ST-elevation myocardial infarction admitted to one of the six registry participating hospitals in Australia were included in this study. The exposure variable was patient-level door-to-balloon time. Primary outcomes assessed included in-hospital and 30 days mortality. 4343 patients fulfilled the study criteria. 38.0% (1651) experienced a door-to-balloon delay of >90 minutes. The absolute risk differences for in-hospital and 30-day deaths between the two exposure subgroups with balanced covariates were 2.81 (95% CI 1.04, 4.58) and 3.37 (95% CI 1.49, 5.26) per 100 population. When unmeasured factors were taken into consideration, the risk difference were 20.7 (95% CI −2.6, 44.0) and 22.6 (95% CI −1.7, 47.0) per 100 population. Despite further adjustment of the observed and unobserved factors, this study suggests a directionally consistent linkage between longer door-to-balloon delay and higher risk of adverse outcomes at the population level. Greater uncertainties were observed when unmeasured factors were taken into consideration.
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Helenius K, Longford N, Lehtonen L, Modi N, Gale C. Association of early postnatal transfer and birth outside a tertiary hospital with mortality and severe brain injury in extremely preterm infants: observational cohort study with propensity score matching. BMJ 2019; 367:l5678. [PMID: 31619384 PMCID: PMC6812621 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l5678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if postnatal transfer or birth in a non-tertiary hospital is associated with adverse outcomes. DESIGN Observational cohort study with propensity score matching. SETTING National health service neonatal care in England; population data held in the National Neonatal Research Database. PARTICIPANTS Extremely preterm infants born at less than 28 gestational weeks between 2008 and 2015 (n=17 577) grouped based on birth hospital and transfer within 48 hours of birth: upward transfer (non-tertiary to tertiary hospital, n=2158), non-tertiary care (born in non-tertiary hospital; not transferred, n=2668), and controls (born in tertiary hospital; not transferred, n=10 866). Infants were matched on propensity scores and predefined background variables to form subgroups with near identical distributions of confounders. Infants transferred between tertiary hospitals (horizontal transfer) were separately matched to controls in a 1:5 ratio. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Death, severe brain injury, and survival without severe brain injury. RESULTS 2181 infants, 727 from each group (upward transfer, non-tertiary care, and control) were well matched. Compared with controls, infants in the upward transfer group had no significant difference in the odds of death before discharge (odds ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 1.61) but significantly higher odds of severe brain injury (2.32, 1.78 to 3.06; number needed to treat (NNT) 8) and significantly lower odds of survival without severe brain injury (0.60, 0.47 to 0.76; NNT 9). Compared with controls, infants in the non-tertiary care group had significantly higher odds of death (1.34, 1.02 to 1.77; NNT 20) but no significant difference in the odds of severe brain injury (0.95, 0.70 to 1.30) or survival without severe brain injury (0.82, 0.64 to 1.05). Compared with infants in the upward transfer group, infants in the non-tertiary care group had no significant difference in death before discharge (1.10, 0.84 to 1.44) but significantly lower odds of severe brain injury (0.41, 0.31 to 0.53; NNT 8) and significantly higher odds of survival without severe brain injury (1.37, 1.09 to 1.73; NNT 14). No significant differences were found in outcomes between the horizontal transfer group (n=305) and controls (n=1525). CONCLUSIONS In extremely preterm infants, birth in a non-tertiary hospital and transfer within 48 hours are associated with poor outcomes when compared with birth in a tertiary setting. We recommend perinatal services promote pathways that facilitate delivery of extremely preterm infants in tertiary hospitals in preference to postnatal transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjell Helenius
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster campus, Imperial College London, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Nicholas Longford
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster campus, Imperial College London, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Liisa Lehtonen
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Neena Modi
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster campus, Imperial College London, London SW10 9NH, UK
| | - Chris Gale
- Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster campus, Imperial College London, London SW10 9NH, UK
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Fathi O, Bapat R, G. Shepherd E, Wells Logan J. Golden Hours: An Approach to Postnatal Stabilization and Improving Outcomes. NEONATAL MEDICINE 2019. [DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.82810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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Pillay T, Modi N, Rivero-Arias O, Manktelow B, Seaton SE, Armstrong N, Draper ES, Dawson K, Paton A, Ismail AQT, Yang M, Boyle EM. Optimising neonatal service provision for preterm babies born between 27 and 31 weeks gestation in England (OPTI-PREM), using national data, qualitative research and economic analysis: a study protocol. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e029421. [PMID: 31444186 PMCID: PMC6707683 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In England, for babies born at 23-26 weeks gestation, care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as opposed to a local neonatal unit (LNU) improves survival to discharge. This evidence is shaping neonatal health services. In contrast, there is no evidence to guide location of care for the next most vulnerable group (born at 27-31 weeks gestation) whose care is currently spread between 45 NICU and 84 LNU in England. This group represents 12% of preterm births in England and over onr-third of all neonatal unit care days. Compared with those born at 23-26 weeks gestation, they account for four times more admissions and twice as many National Health Service bed days/year. METHODS In this mixed-methods study, our primary objective is to assess, for babies born at 27-31 weeks gestation and admitted to a neonatal unit in England, whether care in an NICU vs an LNU impacts on survival and key morbidities (up to age 1 year), at each gestational age in weeks. Routinely recorded data extracted from real-time, point-of-care patient management systems held in the National Neonatal Research Database, Hospital Episode Statistics and Office for National Statistics, for January 2014 to December 2018, will be analysed. Secondary objectives are to assess (1) whether differences in care provided, rather than a focus on LNU/NICU designation, drives gestation-specific outcomes, (2) where care is most cost-effective and (3) what parents' and clinicians' perspectives are on place of care, and how these could guide clinical decision-making. Our findings will be used to develop recommendations, in collaboration with national bodies, to inform clinical practice, commissioning and policy-making. The project is supported by a parent advisory panel and a study steering committee. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Research ethics approval has been obtained (IRAS 212304). Dissemination will be through publication of findings and development of recommendations for care. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02994849 and ISRCTN74230187.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thillagavathie Pillay
- Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK
- School of Medicine and Clinical Practice, University of Wolverhampton Faculty of Science and Engineering, Wolverhampton, UK
| | - Neena Modi
- Department of Neonatal Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Brad Manktelow
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Sarah E Seaton
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Natalie Armstrong
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Kelvin Dawson
- Parent Representative, BLISS National Charity for Babies Born Premature or Sick, London, UK
| | - Alexis Paton
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | | - Miaoqing Yang
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Elaine M Boyle
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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Clarke GM, Conti S, Wolters AT, Steventon A. Evaluating the impact of healthcare interventions using routine data. BMJ 2019; 365:l2239. [PMID: 31221675 PMCID: PMC6584784 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l2239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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