Comparison of Respiratory Morbidity in Late Preterm and Term Infants at a Single Institution

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to evaluate short-term respiratory morbidity in late preterm births compared with term births at a single center in Korea. METHODS: In retrospective study, we reviewed medical records of neonates that were born at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital from January 2002 to January 2011 and their mothers. The neonates were divided into two groups by their gestational age (GA) 535 late preterm births (GA, 34+0 to 36+6 weeks) and 3,037 term births (GA, 37+0 to 41+6 weeks). We compared late preterm births and term births in regard to maternal characteristics, neonatal characteristics, respiratory morbidities, and respiratory supports. RESULTS: Of 535 late preterm births, 117 (21.9%) had respiratory tract disease. Of 3,037 term births, 105 (3.5%) had respiratory tract disease. Compared term births, late preterm births had significantly more respiratory diseases such as apnea (odds ratio [OR], 37.3), respiratory distress syndrome (OR, 34.0), transient tachypnea of newborn (OR, 5.9), and pneumonia (OR, 2.2). Duration of oxygen supply was longer in term than in preterm births. Oxygen supply through isolette and use of surfactant were more frequent in late preterm than term births. It was not differ from two groups to use continuous positive airway pressure and mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: This study showed that late preterm births had significantly higher respiratory morbidity than term births. Therefore, we should have more attention to evaluate and manage when late preterm birth occur than before. Also it is necessary to study long-term respiratory outcomes of late preterm births and discuss about perinatal care system.