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Perinatal factors associated with active intensive treatment at the border of viability: a population-based study

Journal of Perinatology volume 35, pages 705–711 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of this national population-based study was to identify perinatal and neonatal factors associated with active intensive treatment (AIT) of infants born at the periviable period of 22 to 24 weeks of gestation.

Study design:

Data from the Israel national very low-birth weight infant database on 2207 infants born alive in 1995 to 2010 at gestational age (GA) 22 to 24 weeks were evaluated. AIT was defined as endotracheal intubation in the delivery room or mechanical ventilation in the neonatal intensive care unit. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the independent effect of demographic and perinatal factors on AIT for each gestational week.

Result:

Of the 2207 infants born at 22 to 24 weeks GA, 1643 (74.4%) received AIT and 564 (25.6%) received comfort care. AIT increased from 25.5% at 22 weeks to 62.7 and 93.5% at 23 and 24 weeks GA, respectively, reflecting a 4.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.32 to 6.54)- and 29.8 (95% CI 19.9 to 44.6)-fold odds for AIT at 23 and 24 weeks GA, respectively, compared with 22-week GA infants. Perinatal treatments associated with AIT included maternal tocolytic therapy (odds ratio (OR) 1.51, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.20), prenatal steroid therapy, both partial (OR 3.30, 95% CI 2.14 to 5.10) and complete (OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.91 to 5.26) and cesarean delivery (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.88 to 3.83). Each unit increase in birth weight z-score was associated with an OR of 1.58 (95% CI 1.30 to 1.92) for AIT. At 22 weeks GA, maternal tocolytic treatment was associated with higher odds of AIT. In the 23 and 24-week GA infants, maternal infertility treatment, antenatal steroids, cesarean delivery and higher-birth weight z-scores were significantly associated with AIT. Among 23-week GA infants, AIT decreased significantly in the period 2006 to 2010 compared with 1995 to 2000 (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.77).

Conclusion:

An active approach in obstetric management of pregnancies appears to impact the neonatologists’ decision to undertake AIT treatment in infants born at the border of viability. The higher odds for AIT associated with obstetric interventions might contribute to the reported beneficial effect of antenatal steroids and cesarean delivery on the survival of infants born at the border of viability.

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Acknowledgements

The Israel National very low-birth weight infant database is supported partially by the Israel Center for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel

    I Litmanovitz, S Arnon, S Bauer-Rusak & T Dolfin

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    I Litmanovitz, B Reichman, S Arnon & T Dolfin

  3. Children’s Health Research Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    B Reichman, V Boyko & L Lerner-Geva

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  1. I Litmanovitz
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Correspondence to I Litmanovitz.

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Appendix 1

Appendix 1

The Israel Neonatal Network, which compiles the Israel national VLBW infant database, consists of these participating centers: Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Rishon Le Zion; Barzilay Medical Center, Ashkelon; Bikur Holim Hospital, Jerusalem; Bnei Zion Medical Center, Haifa; Carmel Medical Center, Haifa; English (Scottish) Hospital, Nazareth; French Hospital, Nazareth; Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Karem, Jerusalem; Hadassah University Hospital, Har Hazofim, Jerusalem; Haemek Medical Center, Afula; Hillel Yafe Medical Center, Hadera; Italian Hospital, Nazareth; Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot; Laniado Hospital, Netanya; Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center, Bnei-Brak; Meir Medical Center, Kefar Saba; Misgav Ladach Hospital, Jerusalem; Poriah Hospital, Tiberias; Rambam Medical Center, Haifa; Rivka Ziv Hospital, Zefat; Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel and Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petach-Tikva; Shaare-Zedek Hospital, Jerusalem; Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer; Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheva; Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv; Western Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya; Wolfson Medical Center, Holon; Yoseftal Hospital, Eilat.

Coordinating Center: Women and Children’s Health Research Unit, Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Tel Hashomer.

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Litmanovitz, I., Reichman, B., Arnon, S. et al. Perinatal factors associated with active intensive treatment at the border of viability: a population-based study. J Perinatol 35, 705–711 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2015.48

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