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. 2020 May;40(5):798-805.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-020-0653-x. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

Do most premature babies get discharged by the expected date of delivery?

J Patel  1 , M Patel  2 , L Tucker  2 , R Kalikkot  2 , J Desai  2
Affiliations

Do most premature babies get discharged by the expected date of delivery?

J Patel et al. J Perinatol. 2020 May.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the length of stay (LOS) against the expected date of delivery (EDD) and to describe mortality and LOS outcomes by gestational age (GA) categories over the years.

Study design: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient database discharge records for years 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2016 were analyzed. For premature infants after inclusion-exclusion, actual, and calculated LOS were compared. Mortality and LOS outcomes were analyzed by GA and years.

Results: The majority (99%) of infants >28 weeks were discharged by EDD while, for neonate ≤28 weeks, about three-quarters (75%) of infants were discharged by calculated EDD. LOS is increasing while mortality is decreasing by GA categories in recent years.

Conclusions: This is the largest study of mortality and LOS in the United States. Our study provides evidence-based numbers comparing actual LOS against EDD, which can be used in perinatal settings to counsel parents.

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