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Phototherapy: a new risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight preterm infants? a retrospective case–control study

Journal of Perinatology volume 43, pages 1363–1367 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the association between phototherapy (PT) and the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Study design

A retrospective case–control study was conducted on VLBW infants with or without NEC (stage IIA or greater) born at ≤35 weeks’ gestation in a tertiary hospital over 7 years. Sample size calculation, trend test, as well as univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were employed.

Results

A total of 824 VLBW infants were reviewed, with 74 cases and 122 controls finally enrolled. The odds of NEC increased with the duration and number of PT sessions. Exposure to >120 h and >4 instances of PT were significantly associated with NEC in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

This is the first study suggesting a potential association between PT and development of NEC in VLBW infants. This association needs further exploration.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by Scientific Research of Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children (2020YJQN01), Scientific Research Cultivation Project of Chongqing Health Commission (2021FY109) and Joint Scientific Research Grants of Chongqing Health Commission and Science and Technology Bureau (2021MSXM116). The roles of the 2020YJQN01, 2021FY109 and 2021MSXM116 grants were to support the data collection, interpretation, and manuscript editing.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University/Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China

    Jie Li, Xiao-Yun Zhong, Li-Gang Zhou, Yan Wu, Li Wang & Si-Jie Song

Authors
  1. Jie Li
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  2. Xiao-Yun Zhong
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  3. Li-Gang Zhou
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  4. Yan Wu
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  5. Li Wang
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  6. Si-Jie Song
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Contributions

JL conceptualized and designed the study, acquired and analyzed the data, drafted the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. X-YZ and S-JS supervised the project and critically revised the important intellectual content. L-GZ, YW and LW coordinated and supervised data collection. All the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Si-Jie Song.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the medical Ethical Committee of the Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (Date 2022.07.26/No.2022.031).

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Li, J., Zhong, XY., Zhou, LG. et al. Phototherapy: a new risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight preterm infants? a retrospective case–control study. J Perinatol 43, 1363–1367 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01744-y

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