Abstract
Most neonatal deaths occur in infants of very low birthweight (VLBW: <1500 g), who thus provide a good index group for comparing the performance of neonatal units. However, comparisons of neonatal outcome are unreliable unless adjusted for differences in the degree of initial risk between populations. With the method used in the PRISM score (Crit Care Med 1988;16:1110-16) we developed a score from regression coefficients of 4 independent variables describing clinical risk and disease severity: birthweight, gestation, and mean FiO2 and mean pH in the first 12 hours of life. Scores were closely related to hospital deaths in 197 VLBW infants in 2 UK tertiary neonatal units (Reference Dataset):
Results in an independent sample of 164 VLBW infants in another UK tertiary neonatal unit (Validation Dataset) were:
Risk-adjusted mortality did not differ significantly between the first and second populations. These data suggest that it is feasible to develop an accurate scoring system to quantify initial clinical risk in VLBW infants.
(supported by the Medical Research Council and the Scottish Office)
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Tarnow-Mordi, W., Parry, G. & Ogston, S. THE CRIB (CLINICAL RISK INDEX FOR BABIES) SCORE: A TOOL FOR EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES IN VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS. Pediatr Res 32, 619 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00087
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00087