Journal of Korean Medical Science, 2019. 34(5), e40-, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e40

Neonatal Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight Infants in Korean Neonatal Network from 2013 to 2016

Jang Hoon Lee, O Kyu Noh;Yun sil Chang

Abstract

Background: This study was performed to determine survival and morbidity rates in verylow birth weight infants (VLBWIs) in the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN), and to compareneonatal outcomes with those in other countries.

Methods: Data were collected for 8,269 VLBWIs with gestational age (GA) ≥ 22 weeks whowere born between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016, and admitted to the neonatalintensive care units of the KNN.

Results: The survival rate of all VLBWIs and of infants with GA 22–23, 24–25, 26–27, 28–29,30–32, and > 32 weeks were 86% (total), 33%, 65%, 84%, 94%, 97%, and 98%, respectively.The bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) rates of all VLBWIs and of infants with GA 22–23,24–25, 26–27, 28–29, 30–32, and > 32 weeks were 30% (total), 88%, 64%, 47%, 26%, 14%,and 5%, respectively. The intraventricular hemorrhage rates (≥ grade III) of all VLBWIs andof infants with GA 22–23, 24–25, 26–27, 28–29, 30–32, and > 32 weeks were 10% (total), 45%,27%, 12%, 5%, 2%, and 1%, respectively. In an international comparison, the survival rateof VLBWIs with GA 24–27 weeks in KNN was lower, and the BPD rate of VLBWIs in the KNNwas higher than that of the neonatal networks of other countries.

Conclusion: Despite overall improvements in neonatal outcomes, the survival and morbidityrates of more immature infants with GA 22–27 weeks need further improvement. Therefore,it would be necessary to develop more optimal treatment strategies and perform more activequality improvement to further improve neonatal outcomes of VLBWIs in Korea.

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e40
• ISBN or ISSN: 1011-8934

• 본 연구는 질병관리본부 연구개발과제연구비를 지원받아 수행되었습니다.
• This research was supported by a fund by Research of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.