In-hospital Outcomes of Premature Infants with Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

OBJECTIVE: To characterize in-hospital outcomes of premature infants diagnosed with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study including premature infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia discharged from 348 Pediatrix Medical Group neonatal intensive care units from 1997–2015. RESULT: There were 10,752 infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and 549/10,752 (5%) died prior to discharge. Infants who died were more likely to be male, small for gestational age, have received more medical interventions, and more frequently diagnosed with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis, culture-proven sepsis, and pulmonary hypertension following 36 weeks postmenstrual age compared to survivors. Approximately 70% of infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were discharged by 44 weeks postmenstrual age, and 86% were discharged by 48 weeks postmenstrual age. CONCLUSION: A majority of infants diagnosed with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were discharged home by 44 weeks postmenstrual age. These results may inform discussions with families regarding the expected hospital course of infants diagnosed with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia.