Objectives

To evaluate the survival and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants at 18 to 26 months with early hypoxemic respiratory failure (HRF). We also assessed whether African American infants with early HRF had improved outcomes after exposure to inhaled nitric oxide (iNO).

Methods

ELBW infants ≤1000 g and gestational age ≤26 weeks with maximal oxygen ≥60% on either day 1 or day 3 were labeled as "early HRF" and born between 2007 and 2015 in the Neonatal Research Network were included. Using a propensity score regression model, we analyzed outcomes and effects of exposure to iNO overall and separately by race.

Results

Among 7639 ELBW infants born ≤26 weeks, 22.7% had early HRF. Early HRF was associated with a mortality of 51.3%. The incidence of moderate-severe NDI among survivors was 41.2% at 18 to 26 months. Mortality among infants treated with iNO was 59.4%. Female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8-3.3), birth weight ≥720 g (aOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.7-3.1) and complete course of antenatal steroids (aOR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1-2.2) were associated with intact survival. African American infants had a similar incidence of early HRF (21.7% vs 23.3%) but lower exposure to iNO (16.4% vs 21.6%). Among infants with HRF exposed to iNO, intact survival (no death or NDI) was not significantly different between African American and other races (aOR: 1.5, 95% CI: 0.6-3.6).

Conclusions

Early HRF in infants ≤26 weeks' gestation is associated with high mortality and NDI at 18 to 26 months. Use of iNO did not decrease mortality or NDI. Outcomes following iNO exposure were not different in African American infants.

Objective

To determine whether prenatal and childhood tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) are each independently associated with mild sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms throughout early childhood, and whether the association between childhood TSE and SDB differs according to the level of prenatal exposure.

Methods

Longitudinal cohort study, using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a population-based birth cohort from the United Kingdom. Primary exposures were repeated measures of mother-reported prenatal and childhood TSE through age 7 years. Outcomes were mother-reported measures of mild SDB symptoms, including snoring, mouth breathing, and witnessed apnea, repeated annually through age 7 years.

Results

A total of 12,030 children were followed for a median duration of 7 years. About 24.2% were exposed to prenatal tobacco smoke, 46.2% were exposed at least once in childhood, and 20.6% were exposed during both periods. Both prenatal and childhood TSE were associated with SDB symptoms throughout early childhood (adjusted OR [aOR] for any prenatal TSE 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08, 1.40; aOR for any childhood TSE 1.17; 95% CI 1.06, 1.29). We observed a dose-response effect between TSE and SBD symptoms, and found evidence of effect modification for those exposed during both time periods (combined high level exposure both prenatally and during childhood: aOR snoring 2.43 [95% CI 1.50, 3.93], aOR apnea 2.65 [95% CI 1.46, 4.82]).

Conclusions

Prenatal and childhood TSE were both independently associated with mild SDB symptoms throughout early childhood in a dose-dependent manner, further supporting the critical importance of maintaining a tobacco-free environment throughout gestation and childhood.