Status and Influencing Factors of Parenteral Nutrition Practice for Late Preterm Infants in China

OBJECTIVES: To explore the status of parental nutrition practice of hospitalized late preterm infants and the factors influencing the clinical prescription. METHODS: A multi-center, prospective cohort study was conducted during October 2015 to October 2017. Infants born after 34 weeks and before 37 weeks were enrolled from twenty-five hospitals in the Beijing area of China. Data of enteral and parenteral nutrition were collected. RESULTS: A total of 1,463 late preterm infants were enrolled in this study, 53.9% of infants were supported by parenteral nutrition. Over 60% of 34 weeks’ infants were on parenteral nutrition during the 2nd to the 4th day. Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age(GA) (OR = 0.69, 95%CI 0.58–0.81), birth weight (OR = 0.41, 95%CI 0.26–0.65), hypoglycemia (OR = 2.77, 95%CI 1.90–4.04), small for gestational age (SGA) (OR = 2.18, 95%CI 1.34–3.55), feeding intolerance (OR = 6.41, 95%CI 1.90–21.59), neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) (OR = 2.16, 95%CI 1.12–4.18), neonatal infection(OR = 1.56 95%CI 1.16–2.10), and slow enteral nutrition advancement rate (OR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.90–0.95) were factors influencing the administration of parenteral nutrition. CONCLUSION: Over half of hospitalized late preterm infants were prescribed with parenteral nutrition. Infants with lower GA, lower birth weight, diagnosed with hypoglycemia, SGA, feeding intolerance, NRDS, neonatal infection, or a slower rate of enteral nutrition advancement had a higher likelihood of receiving parenteral nutrition.