Survival Rate, Postdischarge Readmission Rate, Its Causes and Outcomes Among the Preterm Neonates Admitted in a Tertiary Care Centre, Northern India

Objective: To assess the survival rate, readmission rate, its causes, and outcomes among the preterm neonates that were discharged from the neonatal units of a tertiary care center of northern India. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in neonatal units of a tertiary care center in northern India. Preterm neonates (<=35 weeks) were admitted in these neonatal units, and their parents were included as participants by total enumeration sampling between July–December 2018. The data was collected from the admission records for the last 6 months from neonatal intensive care unit and from the parents whose babies were discharged. The parents were telephonically interviewed regarding readmissions and mortality. The data relating to the sociodemographic profile of parents, clinical profile of preterm neonates, readmission profile of discharged preterm neonates, and risk predictors for readmission of preterm neonates was collected. Results: A total of 249 preterm neonates were admitted in 6 months. It was found that the survival rate was 197 (79.1%); the readmission rate was 23 (16.4%). Out of total readmitted, majority 22 (95.7) had low maternal education as risk predictor of readmissions, followed by habitats of rural area. Conclusion: Preterm neonates are at more risk for getting multiple readmissions as compared to other neonates. Thus, there is a need to find out the strategies to overcome the burden of readmissions.