Racial Differences in Respiratory Morbidity in Late Preterm Infants: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Objectives . The role of race in late preterm respiratory morbidity has not been adequately described. We aimed to determine whether neonatal respiratory morbidity differs between Black and White late preterm infants. Methods . Single-centre retrospective cohort study at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK of infants born at 34 to <37 weeks of gestational age. The incidence of invasive ventilation was used as the main outcome. Results . In the study period 354 Black and 673 White late preterm infants were admitted. Black, compared to white infants, had a lower incidence of invasive ventilation (19% vs 27%, P < .001) and a lower incidence of non-invasive ventilation (22% vs 34%, P < .001). Black infants had a shorter duration and cost of stay compared to White infants ( P = .011 and <0.001 respectively). Conclusion . Black late preterm infants needed less frequently invasive and non-invasive ventilation and had a shorter duration and cost of stay compared to White late preterm infants.