Hospital Visits from Respiratory Diseases of Early and Late Preterm Infants

Abstract

Purpose We aimed to evaluate the respiratory illness-related hospital visits (out-patient clinics, emergency room, and re-admission) of preterm infants, and compare them according to corrected age and prematurity. Methods We reviewed the medical records of preterm infants born at <37 weeks of gestation admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Inha University Hospital between January 2012 and June 2015. Infant follow-up appointments in both neonatology and pulmonology out-patient clinics occurred for at least 2 years after NICU discharge. Results The proportion of infants who visited the hospital due to any respiratory illness was as high as 50% until 12 months of corrected age, and subsequently decreased over time. Hospital admission was significantly higher in early preterm infants (<34 weeks of gestation) compared to late preterm infants (≥34 and <37 weeks of gestation). The proportion of infants who were re-admitted due to lower respiratory tract illness was significantlyhigher until 6 months of corrected age compared to the later, and did not differ between early and late preterm infants. Conclusion The proportion of hospital visits of preterm infants due to respiratory disease was high until 12 months of corrected age. Most notably, the re-admission proportion from lower respiratory tract illness was high under 6 months in both early and late preterm infants. Preterm infants within this age that are visiting the hospital with respiratory symptoms should be carefully observed and followed up.

Keywords

• preterm infants
• patient readmission
• respiratory tract diseases