Schmidt et al reviewed the impact of 3 morbidities in very low birth weight infants on outcomes by 5 years of age. These can help to identify a patient who may require more aggressive management. The authors are from multiple institutions in the United States, Canada, Australia and Israel.
Patient selection: very low birth weight infant (500 to 1250 grams) surviving to 36 weeks post-menstrual age
Outcome by corrected age of 5 years: death; disability (motor impairment; cognitive impairment; behavior problems; poor general health; severe hearing loss; bilateral blindness)
Morbidities:
(1) bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD; use of supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks post-menstrual age)
(2) serious brain injury on cranial ultrasound (grade 3 or 4 hemorrhage; cystic periventricular leukomalacia; poroencephalic cysts; ventriculomegaly)
(3) severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP; stage 4 or 5 in one or both eyes; receipt of retinal therapy in one or both eyes)
Number of Morbidities
Percent with Poor Outcome
0
11.2%
1
22.9%
2
43.9%
3
61.5%
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
