64 Respiratory outcomes by five years of age among children born preterm: A population-based study using health services data

While neonatal care advancements have led to increased survival of preterm infants, many experience ongoing respiratory complications.

Healthcare administrative data offers a comprehensive measure of neonatal outcomes. Our study used population-based data to describe rates of healthcare contacts for respiratory disease among children born preterm.

A retrospective cohort of infants born in British Columbia between 2004-2014 was identified using a provincial birth registry. By linking to population-based healthcare data, we captured population demographics, birth data, and healthcare visits for respiratory causes [outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and intensive care (ICU) admissions] up to 5 years of age. The rate of healthcare visits due to asthma, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia were compared between preterm (22-36 weeks) and term/post-date infants (37-44 weeks GA) using Poisson regression.

Children born at term (n=413,140) were compared to children born at 34-36 week GA (n=33,227), 28-33 week GA (n=8362), and 22-27 week GA (n=1231). Compared to term infants, rates of hospitalizations and ICU admission for all respiratory causes were higher among children born preterm. Children born 22-27 weeks GA had the highest rates of hospitalization for asthma [rate ratio (RR) 9.4, 95% CI 7.9-11.1], bronchiolitis (RR 10.5, 95% CI 9.3-11.8) and pneumonia (RR 15.9, 95% CI 14.3-17.7). Rates of ICU admission for asthma (RR 27.1, 95% CI 17.2-40.4) and pneumonia (RR 58.1, 95% CI 46.6-71.7) were highest among 22-27 week GA infants. Increased rates persist among children born 34-36 weeks GA, with higher rates of hospitalization for asthma (RR 1.8, 95% CI 1.6-1.9), bronchiolitis (RR 2.1, 95% CI 2.0-2.2), and pneumonia (RR 1.8, 95% CI 1.7-2.0) compared to term infants.

Preterm infants experience significantly higher rates of outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions for respiratory disease compared to term infants. Healthcare utilization, including ICU admissions, increased with decreasing gestational age. Of note, increased rates of respiratory disease were also found among infants born 34-36 weeks GA. Our study is the first to use population based data to describe rates of healthcare contacts for respiratory disease among preterm infants, providing insight to long-term respiratory disease burden.