Risk Prediction of Feeding Intolerance in Preterm Infants

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors associated with feeding intolerance (FI) in preterm infants. METHODS: Preterm infants treated in the neonatal unit of a hospital from August 2014 to January 2015 were recruited in this study. A clinical observation table was developed based on the reactive scope model. Data in relation to predictive homeostasis, reactive homeostasis, homeostatic overload, homeostatic failure and other aspects were collected and compared between those with and without FI.Alogistic regression model was established to determine predictors of FI. RESULTS: 1.A total of 207 preterm infants were included in the study: 125 male and 82 female. They had an average gestational age of (33.48±1.66) weeks (ranging from 27+2 to 37 weeks) and an average birth body mass of (2 019.55±334.38) g(ranging from 830 g to 3 120 g).2.The incidence of FI was 33.8%. FI in preterm infants often occurred during the period of being fed within 72 h.The main clinical manifestation of FI was gastric retentionin early-preterm infants and emesis in late-preterm infants.3.Gestational age, birth body mass, fetal distress, aminophylline application, intrauterine infection, breast milk feeding and interval between stools were associated with FI. Gestational age and birth body mass were found to be significant protectors of FI in the logistic regression model. FI declined with increased gestational age and birth body mass. Fetal distress, aminophylline application, and >3 d interval between stools were found to be significant risks of FI in the logistic regression model.4.The prediction model had a 92.73% forecast generation rate of return, with 97.14% sensitivity,88.32%specificity, and 91.30% accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Low gestational age, low birth body mass, fetal distress,aminophylline application, and >3 d interval between stools are independent risk factors associate with FI. The prediction model can identify high risk cases of FI.