Recent Outcome of Very Low Birth Weight Infants at Cheongju Area

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate mortality and morbidity of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) in Cheongju area from 2002 to 2004. METHODS: Two neonatal intensive care units (NICU), 1 university hospital and 1 general hospital in Cheongju participated in this study. We performed a retrospective review of medical records of VLBWIs in 2 NICUs with literature review. Survival rate, neonatal morbidity, cause of death, and risk factors contributing mortality and neurodevelopmental complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The total number of VLBWI was 152 (4.65%) including 43 (1.31%) extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI) who were less than 1,000 g of birth weight. The survival rates were 82.9% and 69.8% for VLBWI and ELBWI, respectively. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was 60%, bronchopulmonary dysplasia 20.6%, severe retinopathy of prematurity 24%, and severe intravetricular hemorrhage 7.3%. More than half of death occurred in the first week of life, and the main causes were respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. The major risk factors contributing mortality and neurodevelopmental complications were birth weight, gestational age, Apgar score, respiratory distress syndrome, and high-grade intraventricular hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Survival rate (82.9%) of VLBWI in Cheongju area, although lower than those of certain NICUS in Seoul, was comparable to those from nation-wide statistics. The incidence of major morbidity seemed somewhat higher than those of other areas in Korea. A systematic national support would be strongly needed for the balanced development of regional NICUs by means of their facilities, personal resources and financial support, etc.