MedPath

Discharge Criteria of Preterm Infants

Completed
Conditions
Length of Stay
Registration Number
NCT06144190
Lead Sponsor
Nagano Children's Hospital
Brief Summary

This retrospective study aims to compare discharge criteria and their impact on the length of stay using two neonatal intensive care units from two countries. The possible discharge criteria include temperature control, apnea observation, periodic respiration, least weight limit, and parents' readiness.

The data were collected retrospectively in each study site.

Detailed Description

Aims: To compare discharge criteria and their impact on the length of stay among preterm infants in Japan and Finland. The possible discharge criteria include temperature control, apnea observation, periodic respiration, least weight limit, and parents' readiness.

Study design and settings: This is a retrospective comparison study in two NICUs: a Level IV in Japan and a Level III in Finland.

Patients: Eligible infants are those who were born between 28+0 and 31+6 weeks of gestation and who were discharged home from the study sites between January 2020 and December 2021. Infants will be excluded if (1) they have major anomalies at birth, (2) they are not discharged home from the study sites, or (3) they are discharged home with oxygen and/or after tracheostomy.

Outcome measures: The primary outcomes are the most common last discharge criterion between the two NICUs, and the potential shortening effects of each discharge criterion on the length of stay. The secondary outcome is the postmenstrual age (PMA) for each discharge criterion.

Statistics: The comparison between two continuous variables will be carried out by the student t test.

Ethics: The Ethics Committee of Nagano Children's Hospital gave ethical approval to this study. The study permission was obtained in both study sites.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
71
Inclusion Criteria
  • Born between 28 and 31 weeks of gestation and
  • Discharged home from the study sites between January 2020 and December 2021
Exclusion Criteria
  • Having major anomalies at birth
  • Need for home oxygen therapy, tracheostomy, and/or gastrostomy at discharge

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Last discharge criterionat discharge (about 2 months of age)

The most common last discharge criterion that was met in each study site

Effects of each discharge criterion on the length of stayat discharge (about 2 months of age)

The potential shortening effects of each discharge criterion on the length of stay

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The postmenstrual age for each discharge criterionat discharge (about 2 months of age)

The postmenstrual age for each discharge criterion that was met

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Nagano Children's Hospita

🇯🇵

Azumino, Nagano, Japan

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath