J Korean Med Sci.  2019 Feb;34(5):e40. 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e40.

Neonatal Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight Infants in Korean Neonatal Network from 2013 to 2016

• Lee JH
• Noh OK
• Chang YS
• Korean Neonatal Network

• KMID: 2440141
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e40

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study was performed to determine survival and morbidity rates in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) in the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN), and to compare neonatal outcomes with those in other countries.
METHODS
Data were collected for 8,269 VLBWIs with gestational age (GA) ≥ 22 weeks who were born between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016, and admitted to the neonatal intensive care units of the KNN.
RESULTS
The survival rate of all VLBWIs and of infants with GA 22-23, 24-25, 26-27, 28-29, 30-32, and > 32 weeks were 86% (total), 33%, 65%, 84%, 94%, 97%, and 98%, respectively. The bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) rates of all VLBWIs and of infants with GA 22-23, 24-25, 26-27, 28-29, 30-32, and > 32 weeks were 30% (total), 88%, 64%, 47%, 26%, 14%, and 5%, respectively. The intraventricular hemorrhage rates (≥ grade III) of all VLBWIs and of infants with GA 22-23, 24-25, 26-27, 28-29, 30-32, and > 32 weeks were 10% (total), 45%, 27%, 12%, 5%, 2%, and 1%, respectively. In an international comparison, the survival rate of VLBWIs with GA 24-27 weeks in KNN was lower, and the BPD rate of VLBWIs in the KNN was higher than that of the neonatal networks of other countries.
CONCLUSION
Despite overall improvements in neonatal outcomes, the survival and morbidity rates of more immature infants with GA 22-27 weeks need further improvement. Therefore, it would be necessary to develop more optimal treatment strategies and perform more active quality improvement to further improve neonatal outcomes of VLBWIs in Korea.

Keyword

Infant, Premature; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; Infant Mortality; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

MeSH Terms

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Gestational Age
Hemorrhage
Humans
Infant Mortality
Infant*
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Korea
Quality Improvement
Survival Rate