Variations in Outcomes for Very Preterm Infants: Insights from Health Systems at Penn State University

About 10% of babies in the U.S. are born preterm, before 37 weeks. According to the CDC, these early births often lead to serious health risks. Infants weighing under 3.3 pounds—known as very low birth weight—are especially vulnerable. They may represent just 1% of births, but they account for over half of infant deaths in the country each year.

A study conducted by researchers at Penn State sheds light on how healthcare systems can affect the survival rates of very preterm infants. Led by Professor Jeannette Rogowski, the research found that where a baby is born can influence their chance of survival by a couple of percentage points. This highlights the potential for improving care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across the nation. The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

In a related study, Rogowski and her team noted that around 84% of very preterm infants are born in hospitals that belong to larger health systems. However, little was known about the quality of care delivered across these systems. This study was a first step in examining this issue.

Rogowski emphasized the importance of high-quality care. Preterm infants face a greater risk of complications like blindness and brain hemorrhages. The care they receive early on can set the stage for their lifelong health.

In the study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 39,000 very preterm infants. The average gestational age was just 27 weeks. Overall, the mortality rate was 8.7%. However, there was a marked difference between health systems: hospitals with the best outcomes had a mortality rate of 7.8%, while those with the worst had 9.8%.

Length of hospital stay also varied significantly, averaging 81 days but ranging from 78 to 90 days depending on the system. This disparity is crucial, especially since Medicaid covers nearly half of all U.S. births. High-quality care is vital not only for health outcomes but also for managing hospital costs.

The researchers aim to dig deeper into why such differences exist. Future work will explore factors like staffing and resource allocation, which may influence care quality. Rogowski noted, “Our healthcare system is constantly evolving, and we need to focus on improving care for vulnerable populations, such as preterm infants.”

Overall, improving outcomes for very preterm infants could save lives and reduce the financial burden on healthcare systems. The study underscores the need for ongoing research to enhance the quality of care across the board.

For more details on preterm birth and its implications, visit the CDC.

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