Abstract
Objective This study aims to study the association between trends in medication utilization
and survival in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants over a 22-year period.
Study Design Medications received by VLBW infants were extracted retrospectively for the four
periods 1990 to 1994, 1995 to 2000, 2001 to 2005, and 2006 to 2011 from our perinatal
database and stratified by two birth weight groups: ≤ 1,000 g and 1,001 to 1,500 g.
Result A total of 5,529 VLBW infants were reviewed. The majority of them were African American
(78%), with an increasing proportion over time. The median number of medications per
patient in all VLBW infants remained similar over time, 9 (5, 15). A cardiovascular
group of medications was most commonly used, with a significant increase in the use
of dobutamine and indomethacin. A significant trend toward an increasing number of
infants without any antibiotic exposure was also noted. Survival steadily and significantly
increased from 83 to 87%.
Conclusion The trends of overall medication use remained the same in our neonatal intensive
care unit (NICU) over the past 22 years. There was no association between medication
utilization and survival. VLBW infants continue to receive a high number of medications
in the NICU, including a variety of antibiotics.
Keywords
preterm - antibiotics - cardiovascular