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Racial/ethnic differences in necrotizing enterocolitis incidence and outcomes in premature very low birth weight infants.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Jammeh, ML; Adibe, OO; Tracy, ET; Rice, HE; Clark, RH; Smith, PB; Greenberg, RG
Published in: J Perinatol
October 2018

BACKGROUND: As advances in neonatal intensive care increase the survival of extremely premature infants, the at-risk population for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) continues to rise. Although racial health disparities in preterm births have been well documented, large-scale studies exploring racial differences in NEC outcomes are lacking. Here, we conduct a study of racial health disparities in NEC using a nationally representative multicenter cohort. STUDY DESIGN: Infants ≤1500 g birth weight and ≤30 weeks gestational age admitted in the first week after birth to neonatal intensive care units in the Pediatrix Medical group from 1997 to 2015 were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of risk factors related to NEC and associated mortality. RESULTS: Of the 126,089 (45% non-Hispanic White, 27% non-Hispanic Black, and 19% Hispanic) infants who met the inclusion criteria, 8796 (7%) developed NEC. On multivariable analysis, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic infants had higher odds of developing NEC (AOR 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.24-1.39], p < 0.001 and AOR 1.30 [1.21-1.39], p < 0.001, respectively). Among infants with NEC, mortality was higher in non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic infants compared to non-Hispanic White infants (AOR 1.35 [1.15-1.58], p < 0.001 and AOR 1.31 [1.09-1.56], p = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic infants are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with NEC. In addition, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic infants have higher odds of death after NEC compared to non-Hispanic White infants. Further studies are necessary to investigate the etiology of these health disparities and to test interventions to improve these health outcomes.

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Published In

J Perinatol

DOI

EISSN

1476-5543

Publication Date

October 2018

Volume

38

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1386 / 1390

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • White People
  • United States
  • Risk Factors
  • Pediatrics
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Male
  • Logistic Models
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Newborn
 

Citation

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Jammeh, M. L., Adibe, O. O., Tracy, E. T., Rice, H. E., Clark, R. H., Smith, P. B., & Greenberg, R. G. (2018). Racial/ethnic differences in necrotizing enterocolitis incidence and outcomes in premature very low birth weight infants. J Perinatol, 38(10), 1386–1390. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0184-x
Jammeh, Momodou L., Obinna O. Adibe, Elisabeth T. Tracy, Henry E. Rice, Reese H. Clark, P Brian Smith, and Rachel G. Greenberg. “Racial/ethnic differences in necrotizing enterocolitis incidence and outcomes in premature very low birth weight infants.J Perinatol 38, no. 10 (October 2018): 1386–90. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0184-x.
Jammeh ML, Adibe OO, Tracy ET, Rice HE, Clark RH, Smith PB, et al. Racial/ethnic differences in necrotizing enterocolitis incidence and outcomes in premature very low birth weight infants. J Perinatol. 2018 Oct;38(10):1386–90.
Jammeh, Momodou L., et al. “Racial/ethnic differences in necrotizing enterocolitis incidence and outcomes in premature very low birth weight infants.J Perinatol, vol. 38, no. 10, Oct. 2018, pp. 1386–90. Pubmed, doi:10.1038/s41372-018-0184-x.
Jammeh ML, Adibe OO, Tracy ET, Rice HE, Clark RH, Smith PB, Greenberg RG. Racial/ethnic differences in necrotizing enterocolitis incidence and outcomes in premature very low birth weight infants. J Perinatol. 2018 Oct;38(10):1386–1390.

Published In

J Perinatol

DOI

EISSN

1476-5543

Publication Date

October 2018

Volume

38

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1386 / 1390

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • White People
  • United States
  • Risk Factors
  • Pediatrics
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Male
  • Logistic Models
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Newborn