PERFECT preterm infant study

AbstractIntroduction. This article summarizes the main findings of the preterm infant sub-study of the Performance, Effectiveness and Costs of Treatment episodes (PERFECT) study. We studied effects of birth hospital level and time of birth on mortality and morbidity and cost-effectiveness of care of very low gestational age (VLGA)/very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.Material and Methods. The study included all infants born below 32 weeks or 1501 g in Finland in 2000–2007. Different cohorts were used depending on the time point.Results. The one-year mortality of live-born VLBW/VLGA infants was higher if born in level II versus level III hospitals, or if born during out-of-office hours in level II versus office hours in level III hospitals. Two out of three VLGA/VLBW subjects did not have any of the prematurity-related morbidities studied. The average cost of quality-adjusted life years was €19,245 by four years of age; the cost was higher in VLGA/VLBW infants with long-term morbidities.Discussion. Birth i...