Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Aim: To evaluate hospitalization rates of early preterm, late preterm and term infants with respect to gestational age. Methodology: Ninety early preterm, late preterm and term infants of both genders were divided into 3 groups of 30 each. Group I was early preterm, group II was late preterm and group III was term infants. Parameters such as increased hospitalizations, multiple gestation, small for GA status were recorded. Results: Out of 90 patients, males were 50 (55.5%) and females 40 (44.5%). The mean gestation age was 32.4 weeks in group I and 36.8 weeks in group II and 39.6 weeks in group III. Birth weight was 2038.2 grams in group I, 2846.2 grams in group II and 3490.2 grams in group III. Multiple gestation was seen in 18% in group I, 12% in group II and 3% in group III. Small for GA was 7% in group I, 11% in group II and 8% in group III. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Hospitalization within 14 days of birth discharge was seen in 3.8%, 3.4% and 3.1% in group I, II and III respectively. Hospitalization within 30 days of birth discharge was seen in 7%, 5.1% and 3.2%. Hospitalization within 90 days of birth discharge was seen in 11.2%, 8.2% and 5.6%. Hospitalization between birth discharge and day 365 of life was seen in 17.5%, 12.2% and 9.4% in group I, II and III respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: There was high rate of hospitalization in early preterm infants.Higher percentage of multiple gestation was seen in early preterm group and higher percentage of SGA babies were found in late preterm group.