Early neonatal outcomes of very-low-birth-weight infants in Turkey: A prospective multicenter study of the Turkish Neonatal Society.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the early neonatal outcomes of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants discharged home from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Turkey.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

A prospective cohort study was performed between April 1, 2016 and April 30, 2017. The study included VLBW infants admitted to level III NICUs. Perinatal and neonatal data of all infants born with a birth weight of ≤1500 g were collected for infants who survived.

RESULTS:

Data from 69 NICUs were obtained. The mean birth weight and gestational age were 1137±245 g and 29±2.4 weeks, respectively. During the study period, 78% of VLBW infants survived to discharge and 48% of survived infants had no major neonatal morbidity. VLBW infants who survived were evaluated in terms of major morbidities: bronchopulmonary dysplasia was detected in 23.7% of infants, necrotizing enterocolitis in 9.1%, blood culture proven late-onset sepsis (LOS) in 21.1%, blood culture negative LOS in 21.3%, severe intraventricular hemorrhage in 5.4% and severe retinopathy of prematurity in 11.1%. Hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus was diagnosed in 24.8% of infants. Antenatal steroids were administered to 42.9% of mothers.

CONCLUSION:

The present investigation is the first multicenter study to include epidemiological information on VLBW infants in Turkey. Morbidity rate in VLBW infants is a serious concern and higher than those in developed countries. Implementation of oxygen therapy with appropriate monitoring, better antenatal and neonatal care and control of sepsis may reduce the prevalence of neonatal morbidities. Therefore, monitoring standards of neonatal care and implementing quality improvement projects across the country are essential for improving neonatal outcomes in Turkish NICUs.

• Authors: Esin Koc, Nihal Demirel, Ahmet Yagmur Bas, Dilek Ulubas Isik, Ibrahim Murat Hirfanoglu, Turan Tunc, Fatma Nur Sari, Guner Karatekin, Ramazan Ozdemir, Huseyin Altunhan, Merih Cetinkaya, Beyza Ozcan, Servet Ozkiraz, Sebnem Calkavur, Kadir Serafettin Tekgunduz, Ayhan Tastekin, Ferda Ozlu, Banu Mutlu Ozyurt, Ahmet Ozdemir, Bilin Cetinkaya, Yasar Demirelli, Esad Koklu, Ulker Celik, Nuriye Tarakci, Didem Armangil, Emel Okulu, Fatma Narter, Birgul Mutlu, Mustafa Kurthan Mert, Ali Bulbul, Huseyin Selim Asker, Ozgun Uygur, Ilker Sait Uslu, Sabahattin Ertugrul, Cumhur Aydemir, Hasan Tolga Celik, Kazim Kucuktasci, Selda Arslan, Hacer Ergin, Aysegul Zenciroglu, Sadik Yurttutan, Aysen Orman, Oguz Tuncer, Beril Yasa, Betul Acunas, Sahin Takci, Zeynel Gokmen, Hilal Ozkan, Serdar Comert, Nuran Ustun, Mehmet Mutlu, Bilge Tanyeri Bayraktar, Leyla Bilgin, Funda Tuzun, Ozge Aydemir, Tugba Gursoy, Arzu Akdag, Asli Memisoglu, Emrah Can, Demet Terek, Serdar Beken, Ozden Turan, Nilufer Guzoglu, Rahmi Ors, Yusuf Kale, Berna Hekimoglu, Hakan Aylanc, Funda Eroglu, Suzan Sahin, Murat Konak, Dilek Sarici, Ilknur Kilic, Nilay Hakan
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 14 Issue 12 Pg. e0226679 ( 2019) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31851725 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Birth Weight
• Female
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Newborn, Diseases (epidemiology)
• Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
• Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
• Male
• Morbidity
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Outcome (epidemiology)
• Prospective Studies
• Turkey (epidemiology)