Short-term outcome of very low birth weight infants in a developing country: comparison with the Vermont Oxford Network.

OBJECTIVES To determine the outcome of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) admitted to a level III NICU in UAE and compare the results to percentiles published by the Vermont Oxford Network (VON). METHOD Outcome data were collected retrospectively, using standard definitions, on a cohort of VLBWI 500-1500 g admitted between January 2004 and December 2006. RESULTS Of the 173 infants weighing 501-1500 g at birth, 85.6% survived until discharge, which corresponds to the 50th percentile (P50) of VON. Chronic lung disease (CLD) occurred in 12.1% (<P25), death or CLD 26.6%, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) 5.8% (<P50), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) of any grade 17.5% (P25), grade III or IV IVH in 5% (P25), periventricular leucomalacia (PVL) 2.8% (P50), retinopathy of prematurity stage (ROP) 11.3% (<P10). The mortality and morbidity data for the subgroups of 501-1000 g and 1001-1500 g birth weight are also reported. CONCLUSION We report the outcome of VLBWI born in a developing country with high resources. The rates of CLD, IVH and ROP were < or =25th percentile of the VON and mortality, NEC and PVL were in the 50th percentile.