Study: 3 Weeks Can Mean the Difference When It Comes to Preterm Birth Survival

A new study, “Survival of Infants Born at 22 to 25 Weeks’ Gestation Receiving Care in the NICU: 2020 - 2022,” looked at the varying rates of survival among premature births across the United States. The study used data from Vermont Oxford Network, one of the most comprehensive databases for neonatal practices and outcomes, to evaluate the postnatal life support needs of 22,953 infants born in U.S. hospitals at both 22 weeks and 25 weeks from 2020 to 2022. Study authors found that postnatal life support has been increasing for the youngest group of premature births. There was just over a 12% increase in babies born at 22 weeks who received postnatal life support in the two years the study was conducted. Data showed that among all infants born, less than 25% of infants born at 22 weeks survived compared to 52.8% at 23 weeks, 71.1% at 24 weeks and 82.1% at 25 weeks. Survival improved with postnatal life support, bumping the 22-week-old infants survival rate to 35.4%. Despite this, only 6.3% of infants receiving postnatal life support survived without severe complications. Those at 22 weeks who survived also showed higher rates of dependence on medical technology when discharged when compared to infants born later. Authors say the data found from the study can be used to help clinicians partner with families to make extremely difficult decisions when it comes to care for prematurely born babies.  

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.