Outcomes at Age 2 Years of Infants < 28 Weeks' Gestational Age Born in Victoria in 2005

Objective

To determine the survival rates and neurosensory outcomes of infants born at gestational age 22-27 weeks in the state of Victoria in 2005 and compare theses data with those for similar infants born in the 1990s.

Study design

This was a population-based study of all extremely preterm (22-27 weeks' gestational age) live births in Victoria in 2005 free of lethal anomalies and randomly selected term controls. Survival and quality-adjusted survival rates at age 2 years were determined relative to the controls, and results were compared with regional extremely preterm cohorts born in 1991-92 and 1997.

Results

Of 270 very preterm live births in 2005, 172 (63.7%) survived to 2 years, not significantly different from the survival rate of 69.6% for those born in 1997. Rates of severe developmental delay and severe disability were lower than in the very preterm survivors born in 1997. Quality-adjusted survival rates in the extremely preterm cohorts rose from 42.1% in 1991-92 to 55.1% in 1997, but did not increase in 2005 (53.4%).

Conclusions

Survival rates for infants born at 22-27 weeks' gestational age have not increased since the late 1990s, but the neurosensory outcome in survivors has improved.

CI, Confidence interval, CP, Cerebral palsy, GMFCS, Gross Motor Function Classification System, OR, Odds ratio, SD, Standard deviation