Relationships between preterm medical factors and feeding behaviors at term-equivalent age.

Aim: To identify relationships between early medical factors and preterm infant feeding behaviors at term-equivalent age.

Methods: Forty-three very preterm infants born ≤32 weeks gestation had standardized feeding assessments using the Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment at term-equivalent age (36-42 weeks postmenstrual age). Medical factors were collected and analyses were run to determine if associations between different medical factors and feeding performance exist.

Results: Lower Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment scores at term-equivalent age were associated with lower estimated gestational age (p < .01), lower birthweight (p < .01), older postmenstrual age at discharge (p < .01), longer length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (p < .01), chronic lung disease (p = .03), as well as more days on total parenteral nutrition (p = .03), endotracheal intubation (p < .01), and noninvasive mechanical ventilation (p < .01).

Conclusion: More feeding problems are observed in infants born earlier, with longer hospital stays, and with complex medical courses. Knowledge of the association between these medical factors and feeding difficulties allows for identification of infants who may benefit from early, targeted interventions to optimize the feeding process.