The University of Nottingham

Academic Institute

Don Sharkey

The University of Nottingham

nnrd32

There are approximately 90,000 newborn admissions each year to UK neonatal units, 36,000 due to prematurity. Approximately 8-10,000 of these will be under 32 weeks gestation. These infants are at greatest risk of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), a form of lung disease where premature babies need long-term oxygen. A number of studies have demonstrated that the rate of BPD is increasing, as the number of extremely preterm infants who survive continues to rise. There is little data on the current risk factors for BPD. Establishing the current patterns of BPD and associated risk factors will allow clinicians and researchers the opportunity to improve the care we deliver to these high risk infants. In addition, understanding the current burden of respiratory illness, including severity, in these children will allow better planning of future resource allocation to support their healthcare needs later on in life. The National Neonatal Audit Project publishes annual reports on data collected from the majority of UK neonatal units. With a potential large, rich dataset it should be possible to describe the current status of BPD, changes over time and model key risk factors. Understanding the current important risk associations with BPD could allow development of a prognostic (chance of getting the condition) score for high-risk infants. It could also potentially provide some insight into the current trajectory on future incidence and allow interventions to target those at greatest risk. Using this large database, we will collect and analyse data to achieve these aims.

REC reference: 19/YH/0115

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