Short-term and long-term outcomes of very-low-birth-weight infants in Korea: Korean Neonatal Network update in 2019

• Published in: Clinical and experimental pediatrics
• Main Authors: Lee, Jang Hoon, Youn, YoungAh, Chang, Yun Sil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 05-02-2020
• Subjects: Neonatal; Infants; Very Low Birth Weight; Infants; Premature; Intensive Care Unit
• ISSN: 2713-4148

Korea has encountered the lowest birth rate in the world and the rapid increase in the number of preterm infants. The Korean Neonatal Network (KNN), launched by the Korean Society of Neonatology under the support of Korean Center for Disease Control collects population-based data for very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) born in Korea since 2013. In terms of the short-term outcomes of VLBWIs born from 2013 to 2016 registered in the KNN, the survival rate of all VLBWIs was 86%. Respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were observed in 78% and 30% of all VLBWIs, respectively. Necrotizing enterocolitis was found in 7%, and 8% of the VLBWIs needed therapy for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Sepsis occurred in 21% during their NICU stay. Intraventricular hemorrhage (≥ grade III) was diagnosed in 10%. In terms of the long-term outcomes for VLBWIs born from 2013 to 2014 registered in the KNN, the post-discharge mortality was approximately 1.2-1.5% mainly owing to their underlying illness. Nearly half of the VLBWIs were readmitted to the hospital at least once in their first 1-2 years of life mostly as a result of respiratory diseases. The overall prevalence of cerebral palsy was 6.2-6.6% in Korea. Blindness in both eyes was reported in 0.2-0.3% of VLBWIs. Bilateral hearing loss was found in 0.8-1.9%. Since its establishment, the KNN has been publishing annual reports and papers that facilitate improvement of outcomes of VLBWIs and formulation of essential healthcare policies in Korea.