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Oxygen dependency as equivalent to bronchopulmonary dysplasia at different altitudes in newborns ⩽1500 g at birth from the SIBEN network

Journal of Perinatology volume 34, pages 538–542 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To compare the incidence of oxygen dependency in SIBEN neonatal units while adjusting for altitude.

Study Design:

We reviewed the charts of infants who were⩽1500 g at birth, admitted to six neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) near sea level and in seven NICUs at varying altitudes above sea level from the SIBEN network between 2008 and 2010. We defined bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) as oxygen dependency at 28 days of life and at 36 weeks postmenstrual age.

Result:

There were 767 babies in the first group and 318 in the second group. BPD incidence was greater in hospitals at higher altitudes when it was not corrected for barometric pressure. After correction, there was a decrease in the incidence of oxygen dependency at 28 days of life (P<0.0002) and at 36 weeks corrected age. (P<0.0001)

Conclusion:

After correction for higher altitudes, the decrease in oxygen dependency as equivalent to BPD was significant. A proper classification of BPD for higher altitudes is urgently needed.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Leticia Echániz MD for her assistance in the translation of this paper, and Jacov Rabi and Alixe Howlett for reviewing the manuscript. We also thank the reviewers for their insightful comments that enhanced the study.

THE SITE INVESTIGATORS OF THE SIBEN NEONATAL NETWORK

Carlos Alfonso Fajardo (Director of the SIBEN Neonatal Network): Liliana Espelet Hospital E. Ferreyra Necochea Argentina; Guillermo A. Zambosco: Hospital Italiano de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; Maria V. Favareto: Hospital Provincial de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina; Graciela Otero: Hospital Dr A. Duhau, Buenos Aires, Argentina; José María Rodriguez P.: PIT UTI NEONATAL E PEDIATRICA, Sao Paulo, Brasil; Angela Hoyos: Clínica del Country, Bogotá, Colombia; Rafael Tovar: Hospital Universidad, del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia; Oscar Ovalle: Clínica Materno Infantil Cruz Blanca, Bogotá, Colombia; Ana Lucia Torres, SERVIUCIS, Rionegro, Colombia; Catherine Rojas: Hospital Centro Policlínico Olaya, Bogotá, Colombia; Francisco Xavier Jijón: Hospital Metropolitano, Quito, Ecuador; Luis A. Fernandez C.: Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, México, D. F., México; Tania Paredes: Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Perú.

Author information

Author notes

  1. C L A Fernández, C A Fajardo, M V Favareto, A Hoyos, F X Jijón-Letort, M S Carrera, M E Yllescas and M S Romero: Member of Iberoamerican Society of Neonatology Network.

  2. The site investigators of the SIBEN Neonatal Network are listed before References.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, México, , Mexico

    C L A Fernández, M S Carrera, M E Yllescas & M S Romero

  2. University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    C A Fajardo

  3. Hospital Provincial del Rosario, Rosario, Argentina

    M V Favareto

  4. Clínica del Country, Bogotá, Colombia

    A Hoyos

  5. Hospital Metropolitano, Quito, Ecuador

    F X Jijón-Letort

Authors
  1. C L A Fernández
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Members of the Iberoamerican Society of Neonatology network

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C A Fajardo.

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The authors declare no conflict of interests.

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Fernández, C., Fajardo, C., Favareto, M. et al. Oxygen dependency as equivalent to bronchopulmonary dysplasia at different altitudes in newborns ⩽1500 g at birth from the SIBEN network. J Perinatol 34, 538–542 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.46

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