PERFECT preterm infant study.

Introduction: This article summarizes the main findings of the preterm infant sub-study of the Performance, Effectiveness and Costs of Treatment episodes (PERFECT) study. We studied effects of birth hospital level and time of birth on mortality and morbidity and cost-effectiveness of care of very low gestational age (VLGA)/very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Material And Methods: The study included all infants born below 32 weeks or 1501 g in Finland in 2000-2007.

Hospital costs and quality of life during 4 years after very preterm birth.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of gestational age and prematurity-related morbidities on hospital costs and cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) during the first 4 years of life.

Design: Population-based study using national register data and parental questionnaires.

Setting: Finland.

Impact of very preterm birth on health care costs at five years of age.

Objective: We assessed the effects of very preterm birth (gestational age <32 weeks or birth weight <1501 g) and prematurity-related morbidities on health care costs during the fifth year of life.

Methods: The study population consisted of 588 very preterm children and 176 term control subjects born in 2001-2002. Costs of hospitalizations, visits to health care professionals and therapists, and the use of other social welfare services were assessed during the fifth year of life.

Development and behaviour of 5-year-old very low birthweight infants.

The place and time of birth influence the mortality of premature infants. We studied the effect of prematurity, time of birth, birth hospital level and district on the development and behaviour in a national cohort of 5-year-old Finnish very low birthweight infants (VLBWI). All surviving VLBWI (gestational age <32 weeks or birthweight View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Morbidities and hospital resource use during the first 3 years of life among very preterm infants.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine how the use of hospital resources during the first 3 years of life was associated with prematurity-related morbidity in very preterm infants (gestational age of <32 weeks or birth weight of <1501 g).

Methods: The study was a retrospective, national register study including all very preterm infants born alive in Finland between 2000 and 2003 (N = 2148). Infants who died before the age of 3 years (n = 264) or who had missing register data (n = 88) were excluded from the study.

Health-related quality of life in 5-year-old very low birth weight infants.

Objective: To investigate the effect of preterm birth, the time of birth, and birth hospital level and district on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

Study Design: This national study included all very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs; birth weight View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Differences in the length of initial hospital stay in very preterm infants.

Aim: To investigate the effect of maternal, infant and birth hospital district related factors on the length of initial hospital stay in very preterm infants. In addition, rehospitalization rate within the first year from the initial discharge was studied.

Methods: A register study covering all very preterm infants (gestational age < 32 weeks or birthweight < 1501 g) born alive in Finland between years 2000 and 2003 (N = 2148).

The effect of birth in secondary- or tertiary-level hospitals in Finland on mortality in very preterm infants: a birth-register study.

Objective: Our goal was to test the hypothesis that the level of the delivery hospital affects 1-year mortality of very preterm infants in Finland.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective national medical birth-register study included 2291 very preterm infants (gestational age of < 32 weeks at birth or birth weight of < or = 1500 g) born in 14 level II (central) and 5 level III (university) hospitals in 2000-2003. The main outcome measures were adjusted total mortality (including stillbirths) and mortality of live-born infants until the age of 1 year.