Assessment and comparison of mortality and short-term outcomes among premature infants before and after 32-week gestation: A cross-sectional analysis

Background: Prematurity is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to assess the rate of prematurity and determine the mortality rate and short-term outcomes among premature infants admitted at King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH) in Jordan. Materials and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional review of all premature infants admitted at KAUH between August 2016 and August 2018 was conducted. Collected data include characteristics, medical interventions, morbidities, mortality, and discharge outcomes. Included infants were divided into two groups: less than 32 week gestation (group 1) and >= 32-week gestation (group 2). The outcomes were compared between both groups and reported accordingly. Results: Out of 7020 newborns, 1102 were delivered before 37-week gestation, representing a prematurity rate of 15.7%. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 33.8 weeks and 2116 grams respectively. Group 1 comprised 13%. Late preterm infants (gestational age 34 to 36 6/7 weeks) accounted for 74%. The mortality rate was 4.6%. More infants died from group 1 (29% vs. 1.5%, p < 0.05). Group 1 infants had higher rates of respiratory distress syndrome (92% vs. 30%), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (28.4% vs. 1.1%), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (5.9% vs. 0.1%), high-stage retinopathy of prematurity (6.6% vs. 0.2%), necrotizing enterocolitis (9.2% vs. 0%), and sepsis (18.4% vs. 2.1%). At discharge, there was a significant difference in the length of stay, corrected gestational age, and weight in favor of group 2 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Although high rate of prematurity was observed, the majority were late preterm with reassuring outcomes. Compared with >32-week infants, the mortality and short-term complications were more frequent among those born before 32 weeks. Still, the overall mortality rate and risk of morbidities were reasonable. Population-based analysis of the risk factors among the more vulnerable very preterm and extremely premature infants is recommended to better understand the outcomes.