Clinical Profile of Neonates Getting Readmitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after Discharge from Hospital

To estimate the proportion of neonates getting readmitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), after discharge from the hospital. Secondary objectives were to describe the clinical characteristics, reason for readmission and outcome of neonates getting readmitted.

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted to identify neonates getting readmitted to NICU within 28 d of birth and/or before 40 wk post-menstrual age (PMA). Details of neonates who were readmitted to NICU were identified and data extracted in predesigned proforma from digitalized case records (July 2021-June 2023), and outcomes were analyzed.

Out of 26,403 live-births, 5175 neonates required NICU admission (19.6%). Readmissions accounted for 5.9% (95% CI: 5.3–6.6%) of NICU admissions (305/5175) and 1.2% (95% CI: 1.0–1.3%) of live-births. Mean gestational age and birthweight were 36.8 (2.9) wk (range 25–41) and 2584 (713) g (range = 650–4900). Ninety-six (31.5%) were preterm. One hundred and three (33.8%) were high risk neonates. Median age at readmission was 17 d (range: 3–150). Infections (n = 109, 35.7%), infection-related complications (n = 18, 5.9%), feeding problems (n = 63, 20.6%), and jaundice (n = 42, 13.7%) were commonest reasons for readmission. Median duration of hospital stay was 5 d (range: 1–120). Two hundred and ninety four (96.4%) were discharged, and 10 (3.2%) neonates expired.

Readmissions accounted for 5.9% of total NICU admissions. Infections, jaundice and feeding related issues accounted for 76% of all the readmissions.