The effect of late preterm birth on mortality of infants with major congenital heart defects

Objective: We evaluated the effect of late preterm delivery (34 to 36 weeks) on hospital mortality of infants with congenital heart defects (CHDs). Study Design: Retrospective record review of infants with major CHD born at or after to 34 weeks, cared for in a single tertiary perinatal center between 2002 and 2009. Factors associated with death before discharge from the hospital were ascertained using univariate and multivariate analyses. Result: Of the 753 infants with CHD, 117 were born at late preterm. Using logistic regression analysis, white race (OR; 95% CI) (0.60; 0.39 to 0.95), late preterm delivery (2.70; 1.69 to 4.33), and need for intubation in the delivery room (3.15; 1.92 to 5.17) were independently associated with hospital death. Conclusion: Late preterm birth of infants with major CHDs was independently associated with increased risk of hospital death compared with delivery at more mature gestational ages. Journal of Perinatology (2012) 32, 51-54; doi:10.1038/jp.2011.50; published online 5 May 2011