Changes in Perinatal Care and Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality for Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants

Objective: Mortality of very low birth weight premature infants is of great public health concern. To better guide local intervention program, it is essential that current and reliable statistics be collected to understand the factors associated with mortality of these infants. Methods: Data of very low birth weight premature infants admitted to a neonatal unit during 2002-2009 was retrospectively collected. Changes in perinatal care between two halves of the study period (2002-2005 and 2006-2009) were identified. Factors associated with in-hospital mortality were found by logistic regression and a predictive score model was established. Findings: A total of 475 cases were enrolled. In-hospital mortality decreased from 29.8% in 2002-2005 to 28.1% in 2006-2009 (P >0.05). More infants born<28 gestational weeks survived to discharge in the latter epoch (38.1% vs 8.3%, P<0.05). Persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn, pulmonary hemorrhage, birth weight <000 grams, gestational age