Table I.
Sample characteristics of discharged infants
| Baseline factors (total n = 48*) | Range | N (%), median (IQR) or mean (SD) |
|---|---|---|
| Maternal age, y | 16–40 | 27.1 (5.8) |
| Married marital status | 24 (44%) | |
| Maternal education, college education | 23 (43%) | |
| Number of prenatal visits (n = 47) | 0–10 | 3.8 (2.3) |
| Vaginal delivery | 22 (41%) | |
| Illicit drug use | 4 (7%) | |
| Social factors | ||
| Infant sex, female | 20 (37%) | |
| Infant race, African American | 30 (56%) | |
| Medical factors | ||
| EGA, wk | 23–28 | 25.7 (1.4) |
| Birth weight, g | 510–1310 | 854.8 (183.8) |
| Head circumference at birth, cm | 20.8–29.5 | 23.4 (1.5) |
| Use of prenatal steroids | 40 (74%) | |
| Use of postnatal steroids | 19 (35%) | |
| Total parenteral nutrition, d | 8–136 | 32.2 (31.1) |
| Breast milk feeding initiated | 45 (94%) | |
| Total days on breast milk (n = 46) | 0–121 | 51.2 (30.3) |
| Breast milk feeding at discharge (n = 46) | 13 (28%) | |
| Presence of moderate to severe brain injury† | 10 (21%) | |
| Patent ductus arteriosus (n = 47)‡ | 33 (70%) | |
| Necrotizing enterocolitis (n = 45)‡ | 10 (22%) | |
| Retinopathy of prematurity (n = 45)‡ | 9 (20%) | |
| CRIB score§ | 1–13 | 5.3 (3.7) |
| Length of stay, d (n = 45) | 62–265 | 120.1 (42.9) |
| Days of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (n = 45) | 0–22 | 0 (0–3) |
| Number of days ventilated (n = 45) | 0–116 | 9 (1–36.5) |
| Continuous positive airway pressure, d | 0–1776 | 19 (7–39) |
| Days on high humidity | 0–78 | 27 (14.5–41.5) |
| Days on nasal cannula | 0–480 | 19 (11–33.5) |
| Infant was receiving oxygen at 28 d (n = 45) | 44 (98%) | |
| Infant was receiving oxygen at 36 wk (n = 44) | 36 (82%) | |
| Total oxygen, h (n = 45) | 528–6360 | 2550.9 (1220.8) |
| Environmental factors | ||
| Total NICU census at time of term recording | 42–88 | 60 (55.3–71.8) |
| Room type, single patient room | 21 (44%) | |
*
Infants who were enrolled and discharged from the study NICU.
†
Moderate to severe brain injury was defined as a grade III–IV intraventricular hemorrhage, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, or cerebellar hemorrhage as measured by cranial ultrasound scan and/or magnetic resonance imaging.
‡
Presence of patent ductus arteriosus treated with indomethacin or surgical ligation; necrotizing enterocolitis (all stages); retinopathy of prematurity requiring surgical intervention.
§
Higher CRIB scores indicate more medical compromise at admission to the NICU. CRIB scores ranged from 0 to 24.