Prevalence of chronic respiratory morbidity, length of stay, inpatient readmissions, and costs among extremely preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of chronic respiratory morbidity (CRM) in preterm infants (born <= 28 weeks gestational age (GA)) and compare healthcare resource utilization and costs among infants with/without CRM, and with/without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Methods: Commercial claims data from the Truven MarketScan database were retrospectively analyzed. Included infants were born <= 28 weeks GA and admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (January 2009-June 2016). Continuous insurance eligibility was required from birth through 1 year (CRM/no CRM cohorts) or >= 3 months (BPD/no BPD cohorts) CA or death. Results: CRM analysis included 1782 infants; 29.0% had CRM. BPD analysis included 2805 infants; 61.1% had BPD. The mean birth hospital length of stay was longer in infants with CRM versus those with no CRM (p < 0.0001). In infants with CRM or BPD, hospital readmission rates were significantly increased versus those without (both p < 0.0001). Total health care costs were significantly higher in infants with CRM (p = 0.0488) and BPD (p < 0.0001) versus those without. After birth hospitalization, outpatient visits and hospital readmissions accounted for most of the costs for the CRM and BPD cohorts. Conclusion: CRM and BPD following extremely preterm birth impose a significant health care burden.

Automated summary

The study found that chronic respiratory morbidity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants lead to increased healthcare resource utilization and costs, with higher outpatient visits and hospital readmissions following birth.