Role of Gender in Morbidity and Mortality of Extremely Premature Neonates

Marie-Eve Binet; Emmanuel Bujold; Francine Lefebvre; Yves Tremblay; Bruno Piedboeuf; for the Canadian Neonatal Network™

doi:10.1055/s-0031-1284225

American Journal of Perinatology, Table of Contents

Am J Perinatol 2012; 29(03): 159-166
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1284225

Original Article

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Role of Gender in Morbidity and Mortality of Extremely Premature Neonates

Authors

Marie-Eve Binet

¹Department of Paediatrics, Research Centre, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
Emmanuel Bujold

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Research Centre, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
Francine Lefebvre

³Department of Paediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
Yves Tremblay

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Research Centre, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
Bruno Piedboeuf

¹Department of Paediatrics, Research Centre, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada

for the Canadian Neonatal Network™

Abstract

We investigated the effect of gender on survival and short-term outcomes of extremely premature infants (≤27 weeks) born in Canada. The records of infants admitted between 2000 and 2005 to a neonatal intensive care unit participating in the Canadian Neonatal Network were reviewed for infant gender, birth weight, gestational age, outborn status, Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology II, and antenatal corticosteroid exposure. The following outcomes were recorded: survival at final discharge, necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage grade ≥3, retinopathy grade ≥3, days on ventilation, and length of hospital stay. Among 2744 extremely premature infants, 1480 (54%) were male and 1264 (46%) were female. Mean birth weight of female neonates was significantly lower at each week of gestational age. Although no significant difference in survival at discharge was found between genders overall, the prevalence of BPD, combined adverse outcomes, and mortality for infants born between 24 and 26 weeks were significantly higher in males. This study suggests that, in the postsurfactant era, males remain at higher risk of respiratory complications and may have higher mortality when born between 24 and 26 weeks of gestation.

Keywords

prematurity - gender - birth - necrotizing enterocolitis - retinopathy of prematurity - intraventricular hemorrhage - bronchopulmonary dysplasia - NICU - death

Full Text

References

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