Neonatal intensive care unit admissions and their associations with late preterm birth and maternal risk factors in a population-based study

Abstract

Objective. To assess the association of late preterm births (LPB [34^0/7–36^6/7]) and maternal risk factors with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admissions.

Methods. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data of all who delivered between 2000 and 2008. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square and multivariable logistic regression.

Results. During the study period, 259,576 babies were delivered, and 11.6% were admitted to the NICU. Using logistic regression (NICU admission vs. no NICU admission), there was a 9-fold increased risk associated with preterm labor including preterm premature rupture membranes (PTL/PPROM) while LPB and essentially all other maternal risk factors were not significant.

Conclusions. In our study, NICU admissions are more associated with PTL/PPROM rather than LPB and maternal risk factors.

Keywords:

• Minorities
• hypertensive disease
• diabetes
• preterm labor
• preterm premature rupture of membranes

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District for allowing us to have access to the data.

Declaration of interest:

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.