Survival of the Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Congenital Heart Disease

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Pulmonary hypertension is a known risk factor for mortality in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, mortality in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and congenital heart disease has been poorly investigated. Therefore, we conducted an investigation into the mortality and risk factors in these patients. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 45 preterm infants who were diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and congenital heart disease from 2010 to 2013. Their survival was compared with that of a group of control individuals who did not have congenital heart disease. A variety of factors associated with survival were examined. RESULTS: Although initial pulmonary hypertension was more frequent in the patient group, no significant differences were found between the patients and the control subjects with respect to cumulative mortality. The log-rank test indicated that many factors, including follow-up pulmonary hypertension, the use of pulmonary vasodilators, and aggravated oxygen demand, but not the congenital heart disease type, impacted upon survival in the patient group. Aggravated oxygen demand was the only factor that was determined to be associated with mortality in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between the patient and the control groups with respect to cumulative survival. Of the three factors that affected survival within the patient group, aggravated oxygen demand was the only risk factor that was associated with mortality.