Abstract
Objective. To assess the association of late preterm births (LPB [340/7–366/7]) 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.
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.