Comparitive Study Of Outcomes Between Late Preterm And Term Babies








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Comparitive Study Of Outcomes Between Late Preterm And Term Babies

Published 7, October 2013

Overview

Our study compared the morbidity pattern and developmental outcome ( upto six months of age) of babies born late preterm (n= 32) and babies born at term gestation (n = 34) delivered in our Institution during the study period (Nov 2010 to Oct 2011). In the present study,31.2% babies born between 34weeks and 34 weeks+6 days . 25% babies born between 35 weeks and 35weeks+6 days ,43.7% babies born between 36 weeks and 36 weeks+ 6days of gestation. Similar finding has also been reported from
Canada by Kitsommart et al 35. 12.5% of babies in the late preterm group were SGA compared to 2.9% in term group. The remaining babies were AGA. No babies were found to be LGA in both groups. This finding is important because late preterm babies born SGA have higher risk of mortality as reported by Pulver. 29 Similar findings have also been reported in the Canadian study35 which found increased morbidities (respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, temperature instability and prolonged hospitalization) in late preterms during the early neonatal period (22 % vs. 3 %).

In our study, the late preterm babies required some form of active resuscitation (oxygen supplementation, requirement of bag and mask ventilation) but none required chest compressions or medications for resuscitation. It was also observed that the need for resuscitation was higher for babies born between 34 and 35 weeks gestation as against babies born at 36 weeks or later. Hence it is better to plan late preterm deliveries in hospitals well equipped with resuscitation facilities, trained manpower and intensive care facilities.Metabolic problems like hypoglycemia was common in late preterm group compared to term babies (6.25% Vs 0%). Even though this observation was not statistically significant, similar observations have been made With adequate counselling and support all mothers in late preterm group could establish exclusive breast feeding by the time their babies got discharged from the hospital. This finding highlights that these late preterms do develop feeding difficulties if their mothers are not adequately counselled and not given adequate psychological support.

Annotated Bibliography

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia requiring treatment in the form of phototherapy was much higher in late preterm babies as compared to term babies (15.6% vs. 0 %). It was also observed that none of the babies who had jaundice required exchange transfusions or intensive phototherapy. Similar findings have also been reported by other researchers 21
On follow up for about 6 months it was observed that the 2 babies (6.3%) in the late preterm group had adverse outcome in terms of neurodevelopmental delay and impairment in head growth. Our finding is comparable to that reported by Tomashek et al

In our study, we did not find respiratory distress syndrome among the late preterms probably because more babies were born close to 36 weeks. Similarly, there was no mortality in our study group. Other complications like Necrotizing enterocolitis, Intraventricular hemorrhage, Patent ductus arteriosus, Perinatal asphyxia and other metabolic problems like polycythemia and hypocalcemia were not seen in our study. In other words, our study differed from other studies by the conspicuous absence of very sick late preterms and hence the absence of mortality in our study.
The exclusive breast feeding rates for first six months of life were high (78.1%) in the late preterm group compared to (76.4%) term babies. Although this finding is not statistically significant, it is encouraging to find the higher exclusive breast feeding rates in our study compared to national average.


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Conclusion: Late preterms are more prone to develop significant short term as well as long term problems that may ultimately influence their outcome. Just because they are born near term, they cannot be treated as term neonates. These babies require close monitoring and supervision immediately after birth and also on a long term basis just like that of a high risk neonate. The treating clinician should have adequate insight in handling late preterms so as to make them lead normal and healthy lives as they grow up.
The study population is derived from tertiary care referral center where significant proportions of mothers are referred for complex antenatal problems

Strength Of the Study

This study is a prospective observational study with a follow up period of 6 months conducted at a tertiary care centre with wide variety of late preterm problems which are addressed in the study.

Enrolment of the late preterms has been done consecutively

Suggestions for future study

A cohort study following up these late preterms until adulthood may throw some light on metabolic problems that is likely to occur in them

References

Raju TN, Higgins RD, Stark AR, Levona KJ. Optimizing care and outcome for late-preterm (near-term) infants: a summary of the workshop sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Pediatrics.2006; 118: 1207-1214.

Ryan WL, et al.Late preterm birth.Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2010; 3: 10-19.

WHO 2010, Bulletin of the World Health Organization . 2010; 88(1): 1-80

Mortality and Acute Complications in Preterm Infants. National Center for Biotechnology Information,U.S National Library of Medicine. 2007.

UNICEF statistics [online]: 2009; Available from: URL:http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/india_statistics.html

An Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh, 2010 THIRD QUARTER , Vital Statistics - 3rd quater . Central Statistics Office, Information Section, Skehard Road, Cork

Assuma Beevi. (Chapter). (Editors) Textbook of pediatric nursing. Elsevier’s publication. Noida, 2009;143-145.

Gilbert W.M., Nesbitt T.S., Danielsen B. The cost of prematurity: quantification by gestational age and birth weight. Obstet Gynecol. 2003; 102: 488–92.

Martin J.A., et al. Births: final data for 2003. Natl Vital Stat Rep.2005; 54(2): 1–116.

Tomashek K.M., Shapiro-Mendoza C.K., Davidoff M.J., et al. Differences in mortality between late-preterm and term singleton infants in the United States; 1995–2002. J Pediatr, 2007; 151: 450–6.

Moreno-Plata H, Rangel-Nava HA, Felix –Arce C, Valdovinos –Chavez S, Mendez Lozano DH. Short term morbidity in neonates of the late preterm period. Gynecol Obstet Mex . 2011 :79(3):116-24.

Reddy UM, Ko CW, Raju TN, Willinger M. Delivery indications at late-preterm gestations and infant mortality rates in the United States. Pediatrics.2009; 124: 234-240

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