Qualität der Versorgung sehr kleiner Frühgeborener in Deutschland – Auswertung öffentlich verfügbarer Daten der Perinatalzentren von 2014 bis 2018

Introduction Since 2014 outcome data for the treatment of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in Germany have been available at www.perinatalzentren.org. This study explores the relationship between volume of VLBW infants and outcome. Methods Volumes of VLBW infants for each perinatal centre are available for the 5-year period from 2014 to 2018, and survival and survival without severe morbidity in relation to the national average survival rate is reported. In addition to volume an adjusted volume is specified considering several risk factors. Using regression, the relationship between volume, adjusted volume and survival was investigated. Results Of 212 perinatal centres 163 (77%) were level 1 centres (highest level in Germany) and 49 (23%) were level 2 centres caring for 9300 (94%; median 51; min 13 max 186) and 538 (6%; 9; 4–28) VLBW infants per year, respectively. No significant correlation between volume and survival and survival w/o severe morbidity was found. Adjusted volumes showed a weak linear correlation to survival w/o severe morbidity (p=0.02, R2=0.03). Non-parametric regression was significant for adjusted volumes of more than 170 (survival) and 100 (survival w/o severe morbidity) VLBW infants per year and centre, respectively. Below these limits volume does not affect variation. Conclusion Linear and non-linear regression between adjusted volumes and survival was only weak and was driven by the very large perinatal centres.