Assessing the Effect of Language Discordance on Neonatal Outcomes: A Retrospective Analysis [ID 1126]

INTRODUCTION: Communication barriers between health care providers and patients are detrimental to perinatal outcomes. We evaluated the association between language discordance between patients and their health care team and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective single-center chart review was conducted for 1,410 deliveries from April to December 2022. The primary predictor was language discordance. The neonatal outcomes evaluated were premature birth, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Univariable logistic regression was conducted for language discordance and outcome-associated comorbidities using R. Adjusted odds ratios were found using multivariable logistic regression that included statistically significant covariates. Neonatal intensive care unit admission analysis was restricted to deliveries after 35 weeks of gestation due to institutional policy of NICU admission prior to that gestation. RESULTS: In our study, there were 1,295 (92.8%) English-speaking patients and 99 (7.2%) non-English-speaking patients. In univariable models, infants of non-English-speaking patients had decreased odds of premature birth (odds ratio [OR] 0.54; 95% CI, 0.27–0.98; P =.042), and decreased odds of RDS (OR 0.22; 95% CI, 0.05–0.58; P <.001). After controlling for comorbidities using multivariable regression, language discordance was associated with a statistically significant difference in RDS only (adjusted OR 0.11; 95% CI, 0.01–0.57; P =.004). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: In our study population, language discordance was associated with lower rates of RDS and premature birth. Our findings may reflect evidence of foreign-born mothers having better neonatal outcomes than U.S.-born mothers as illustrated in previous studies. Future studies could test this hypothesis by including country of origin.