Learning Objective #1: To understand the cumulative incidence rate and incidence density and predictors of preterm low birth weight infatns

Learning Objective #2: To promote the care of preterm low birth weight infatns

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Due to the increased rates in survival of preterm low birth weight (PLBW) infants, there has been a lot of concern about the morbidity and readmission of the PLBW infants in their first year of life. The study discussed about the cumulative incidence rates¡]CIR¡^and incidence density¡]ID¡^and predictors for readmission due to all causes and respiratory infection within first year following the initial hospitalization after birth. This study used retrospective cohort study design. A total of 18,421 PLBW infants (ICD-9-CM=765) with his/her lifetime initial hospitalization in 2000-2002 were identified from the inpatient claim registry¡]ICR¡^of the National Health Insurance Dataset. The study subjects were then linked to the 2000-2003 ICR to identify all hospitalizations occurred within observation following the initial hospitalization. The CIR of the readmission of all whom the study investigated owing to respiratory infections and all cause were 22.4%and 37.2%,respectively, and the ID were separately 1.0/1000 person-days pds and 1.8/1000 pds. As for the predictors for readmission rates, multivariate analysis with adjustment for potential confounders revealed that male infants, birth weight less than 1500 grams, gestational age less than 28 weeks, congenital anomaly, suffer from chronic lung disease and the insurance premium for the parents was less than NT$19200 dollars were all significant predictors for elevated readmission rates irrespective of period of follow-up. The study found that the first year of life readmission rate among Taiwan¡¦s PLBW infants is similar to the previously reported internationally. The information on potential risk factors suggests that a reduction of readmission rate can be achieved by various strategies including improvement that the care of high risk respiratory disease among PLBW and prenatal health care. These efforts will in turn lead to better cares and prognoses for the PLBW infants.