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Incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in South Korea from 2007 to 2017

Journal of Perinatology volume 41, pages 1092–1099 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the trends of the incidence of and mortality from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in South Korea.

Methods

Claim data were extracted with diagnosis code, including all stage of NEC. Kaplan–Meier curves for cumulative mortality rates are presented by birth weight (Bwt) and gestational age (GA).

Result

The total number of NEC cases was 5840. The ratio of males to females was 1.2:1. There were 11.9 cases per 10,000 births. There were approximately 10 cases per 1000 preterm births and 50 per 1000 very preterm births. The mortality of patients born under 37 weeks decreased from 38.7% in 2007 to 20.9% in 2017. Male sex, lower GA, and lower Bwt were risk factors for mortality.

Conclusions

NEC incidence and mortality have been decreasing over time in South Korea. Male sex, lower GA, and Bwt were risk factors for mortality.

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Fig. 1: Incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and proportion by gestational age.
Fig. 2: Yearly mortality trend in preterm and very preterm patients.
Fig. 3

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Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Hee-Beom Yang, Jin-young Min

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea

    Hee-Beom Yang

  2. Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    Jin-young Min

  3. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Jeik Byun & Dayoung Ko

  4. Department of Pediatric Surgery, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    Hyun-Young Kim & Sung Eun Jung

  5. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    Kyoung-bok Min

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  1. Hee-Beom Yang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hyun-Young Kim or Kyoung-bok Min.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Seoul National University Hospital approved the exemption of this review due to the nature of its anonymous data set (IRB number: E-1901-003-998).

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Yang, HB., Min, Jy., Byun, J. et al. Incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in South Korea from 2007 to 2017. J Perinatol 41, 1092–1099 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01053-2

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