108 Three-year mortality and disability in very preterm and low birthweight infants cared for in single family rooms versus open bay units: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background Single family room (SFR) neonatal intensive care units (NICU) may be better than the open bay (OB) NICU although mortality is similar and language scores are lower in very preterm (VP) infants cared for in SFR. Objectives To compare the composite outcome of death or disability by 36 months corrected gestational (CGA) in VP or very low birthweight (VLBW) infants treated in a SFR versus an OB. Design/Methods Reconstruction of the NICU at the Izaak Walton Killam Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia resulted in a 440-day period when both a SFR and an OB co-existed. All NICU admissions were randomized to either the SFR or OB but only VP (< 31 weeks) and VLBW (<= 1500 grams) infants were eligible for the outcome measures. The primary outcome was death or disability (cerebral palsy, language or cognitive delay, blindness or deafness) at 36 months CGA. Each component of the primary outcome was a secondary outcome. Results 819 randomly allocated infants were admitted to NICU of which 85 were enrolled in the trial, 43 to SFR and 42 to OB. Initial state variables were similar (Table 1). The primary outcome was similar between groups (Fisher exact p-value = 0.650); however, mortality was lower in SFR than OB (Fisher exact p-value = 0.029) as noted in Table 2. Conclusion The primary outcome of death or disability was similar between the two groups; however, there was a significant reduction in mortality in VP or VLBW infants cared for in the SFR NICU compared to the OB NICU.