Neonatal Med.  2016 Nov;23(4):211-217. 10.5385/nm.2016.23.4.211.

Comparisons of Clinical Characteristics Affecting Readmission between Late Preterm Infants and Moderate Preterm Infants or Full-Term Infants

• Shin JS
• Kim YB
• Lee YH
• Shim GH
• Chey MJ

• KMID: 2360460
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5385/nm.2016.23.4.211

Abstract

PURPOSE
We aimed to describe the differences in clinical characteristics that affect readmission between late and moderate preterm or full-term infants.
METHODS
Medical records were reviewed for 881 patients with gestational ages of ≥31⁺⁰ weeks who were born at Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital between1 January 2013 and 20 September 2015. The patients were categorized into three subgroups as follows moderate preterm infants: those born at 31-33 weeks' gestation (n=73), late preterm infants: those born at 34-36 weeks' gestation (n=169),and full-term infants: those born at ≥37 weeks' gestation (n=639). We compared the late and moderate preterm or full-term infants in terms of clinical characteristics that affect readmission.
RESULTS
The readmission rate was 18.9% in the late preterm infants, 21.9% in the moderate preterm infants, and 16.7% in the full-term infants. The independent risk factors of readmission were gestational age in the late preterm infants, positive pressure ventilation at birth in the moderate preterm infants, and air-leak syndrome in the full-term infants. In addition, antenatal care at the first trimester of pregnancy was an independent protective factor against readmission in the full-term infants.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that gestational age may affect the readmission rate of late preterm infants.

Keyword

Preterm infants; Hospital readmission; Gestational age

MeSH Terms

Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant*
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature*
Medical Records
Parturition
Patient Readmission
Positive-Pressure Respiration
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Trimester, First
Protective Factors
Risk Factors