Background: The group of the so-called late preterms (infants born at 34 0/7-36 6/7 weeks gestational age) has been underestimated with respect to their neonatal outcome. Among infants born before the 29th week of pregnancy, a gender-specific difference in favour of females regarding morbidity became evident. The aim of this study is to investigate whether these findings are transferable to the group of late preterms.
Methods: The neonatal outcome of 528 consecutive singletons, born at 34 0/7-36 6/7 weeks gestational age and requiring intensive care, was examined.
Results: Neonatal complications have been particularly analysed with regard to gender-specific differences. Boys (n=292) were significantly more frequently affected by sepsis (3.8 vs. 0.9%; p=0,0314, x²-test). Girls had significantly longer stays in the neonatal intensive care unit (median 12 (Q1:8; Q3:17) vs. 11 (6;16) days; p=0.0149, t-test). In a multiple logistic regression model, male gender and premature rupture of membranes were borderline significant with respect to the occurrence of sepsis - boys had a 4.4-fold risk (OR=0.228 [95% CI: 0.050-1.041]; p=0.0564) and premature rupture of membranes had a 3.5-fold risk (OR=3.462 [0.938-12.779]; p=0.0623). Strong cause variables for the length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit were birth weight, gestational age and premature rupture of membranes after adjustment.
Conclusion: The influence of foetal gender on the neonatal outcome in the late preterm group (34 0/7-36 6/7 gestational age) has been relativised.
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.