Respiratory insufficiency, feeding issues and length of stay in 33–36 weeks post-menstrual age infants

Either grouped and/or fragmented data are available for morbidities in infants born between 33 and 36 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA), which represents >80% of all preterm infants. We demonstrate that respiratory insufficiency, type of respiratory support, delayed gavage-free feedings and length of stay (LOS) are inter-dependent and PMA-specific. Using a novel approach, we provide new significant data that identify clinical variables, associated with shorter and longer than Median LOS at each and even within a given PMA. Comprehensive analysis of morbidities suggests that preterm infants should neither be grouped, nor PMA alone be used for discharge planning and parental counseling.