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Do most premature babies get discharged by the expected date of delivery?

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 798–805 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective

To compare the length of stay (LOS) against the expected date of delivery (EDD) and to describe mortality and LOS outcomes by gestational age (GA) categories over the years.

Study design

Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids’ Inpatient database discharge records for years 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2016 were analyzed. For premature infants after inclusion–exclusion, actual, and calculated LOS were compared. Mortality and LOS outcomes were analyzed by GA and years.

Results

The majority (99%) of infants >28 weeks were discharged by EDD while, for neonate ≤28 weeks, about three-quarters (75%) of infants were discharged by calculated EDD. LOS is increasing while mortality is decreasing by GA categories in recent years.

Conclusions

This is the largest study of mortality and LOS in the United States. Our study provides evidence-based numbers comparing actual LOS against EDD, which can be used in perinatal settings to counsel parents.

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Fig. 1: Neonates who survived to discharge - length of stay compared to the expected date of delivery and percent discharges by expected date of delivery within each gestational age group.
Fig. 2: Neonates who died during hospitalization - length of stay and percent mortality within each gestational age group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Newborn Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA

    J. Patel, M. Patel, L. Tucker, R. Kalikkot & J. Desai

Authors
  1. J. Patel
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  2. M. Patel
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  3. L. Tucker
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  4. R. Kalikkot
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  5. J. Desai
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Contributions

JP did data analysis with help from JD. JP prepared an initial draft, which was revised based on feedback from MP, RK, LT, and JD.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Patel.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Patel, J., Patel, M., Tucker, L. et al. Do most premature babies get discharged by the expected date of delivery?. J Perinatol 40, 798–805 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0653-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0653-x

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