Stephanie Vachon, Rajiv Devanagondi, Andrew Dylag, Hongyue Wang, Gloria Pryhuber
University of Rochester Medical Center. University of Iowa Stead Family Department of Pediatrics.
United States
Early Human Development
Early Hum Dev 2025;
DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106342
Abstract
Objective: To determine if pulmonary hypertension (PH) screening in at-risk infants born preterm reduces morbidity and/or NICU length of stay.
Study design: This single-center retrospective cohort chart review compared infants born <32 weeks gestational age (GA) before and after the implementation of an updated PH screening guideline. Screening eligibility and PH diagnosis were determined by applying the standardized criteria to patients in both epochs. NICU and post-discharge outcomes were determined by chart review.
Results: Pre- (N = 513) and post-screening (N = 544) epochs had similar gestational age and demographic characteristics. More echocardiograms were obtained in post-screening infants resulting in more PH diagnoses (11.5 % vs. 16.5 %, p = 0.02) at a younger median post-natal age [day of life 73 (28-193) vs. 55 (28-212), median and range, p = 0.01]. PH+ infants in the post-screen epoch were discharged at a younger median post-natal age [127 (49-407) vs 113.5 (46-433) days, p = 0.02] and corrected GA [43.6 (36.7-87.4) vs 41.7 (36.6-64.9) weeks, p = 0.03].
Conclusion: PH screening protocol with multidisciplinary team involvement may be associated with increased detection of PH in at risk infants yet a shorter NICU stay in infants with PH.
Category
Class III. Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Lung Disease
Diagnostic Testing for Pulmonary Vascular Disease. Non-invasive Testing
Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Fresh or Filed Publication: Fresh (PHresh). Less than 1-2 years since publication
Article Access
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