National Registry Data from Korean Neonatal Network: Two-Year Outcomes of Korean Very Low Birth Weight Infants Born in 2013-2014

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science Vol. 33; no. 48; p. e309
• Main Authors: Youn, YoungAh, Lee, Soon Min, Hwang, Jong-Hee, Cho, Su Jin, Kim, Ee-Kyung, Kim, Ellen Ai-Rhan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 26-11-2018; 대한의학회
• Subjects: Birth Weight; Blindness - diagnosis; Blindness - epidemiology; Cerebral Palsy - diagnosis; Cerebral Palsy - epidemiology; Databases, Factual; Developmental Disabilities - diagnosis; Developmental Disabilities - epidemiology; Gestational Age; Hearing Loss - diagnosis; Hearing Loss - epidemiology; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases - diagnosis; Infant, Premature, Diseases - epidemiology; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; Original; Prevalence; Registries; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; 의학일반; Republic of Korea; Neurodevelopmental Outcome; Cerebral Palsy; Very Low Birth Weight Infants; Incidence
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e309

The aim of this study was to observe long-term outcomes of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) born between 2013 and 2014 in Korea, especially focusing on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
The data were collected from Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) registry from 43 and 54 participating units in 2013 and 2014, respectively. A standardized electronic case report form containing 30 items related to long-term follow up was used after data validation.
Of 2,660 VLBWI, the mean gestational age and birth weight were 29
± 2
weeks and 1,093 ± 268 g in 2013 and 29
± 2
weeks and 1,125 ± 261 g in 2014, respectively. The post-discharge mortality rate was 1.2%-1.5%. Weight < 50th percentile was 46.5% in 2013 and 66.1% in 2014. The overall prevalence of cerebral palsy among the follow up infants was 6.2% in 2013 and 6.6% in 2014. The Bayley Scales of Infant Developmental Outcomes version II showed 14%-25% of infants had developmental delay and 3%-8% of infants in Bayley version III. For the Korean developmental screening test for infants and children, the area "Further evaluation needed" was 5%-12%. Blindness in both eyes was reported to be 0.2%-0.3%. For hearing impairment, 0.8%-1.9% showed bilateral hearing loss. Almost 50% were readmitted to hospital with respiratory illness as a leading cause.
The overall prevalence of long-term outcomes was not largely different among the VLBWI born between 2013 and 2014. This study is the first large national data study of long-term outcomes.