Short term outcomes of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome: a comparison of two approaches

To evaluate outcomes in opioid exposed neonates (OENs) assessed by the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) tool compared to the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (FNASS).

Retrospective analysis of a statewide database of OENs from 2017 to 2020 with birthing hospitals classified based on the assessment tool used. Four main outcomes were examined using multivariable and Poisson logistic regression models.

Of 2375 OENs, 42.1% received pharmacotherapy (PT) with a consistent decrease in PT, length of treatment (LOT), and length of stay (LOS) over the study period. There was no change in use of mother’s own milk (MoM). While outcomes were significantly associated with several specific variables, there were no differences in outcomes between assessment methods.

While there was a significant decrease over time in PT, LOT, and LOS, improvements were independent of the assessment tool used and likely related to the increased use of non-pharmacologic care.