Darius Javidi1, Zigeng Wang2, Sanguthevar Rajasekaran2, Naveed Hussain3. 1. Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Biology Physics Building (BPB), Storrs, CT, USA. 2. Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of Connecticut, Information Technology Building (ITE), Storrs, CT, USA. 3. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center and University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA. hussain@uchc.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate seasonality and temporal trends in the incidence of NEC. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study from two tertiary NICUs in northern and central Connecticut involving 16,761 infants admitted over a 28-year period. Various perinatal and neonatal risk factors were evaluated by univariate, multivariate, and spectral density analyses. RESULTS: Incidence of NEC was unchanged over the 28 years of study. Gestational age, birth weight, and birth-months (birth in April/May) were independently associated with stage II or III NEC even after adjusting for confounding factors (p < 0.05). Yearly NEC incidence showed a multi-modal distribution with spectral density spikes approximately every 10 years. CONCLUSION(S): Temporal and seasonal factors may play a role in NEC with a peak incidence in infants born in April/May and periodicity spikes approximately every 10 years. These trends suggest non-random and possibly environmental factors influencing NEC.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate seasonality and temporal trends in the incidence of NEC. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study from two tertiary NICUs in northern and central Connecticut involving 16,761 infants admitted over a 28-year period. Various perinatal and neonatal risk factors were evaluated by univariate, multivariate, and spectral density analyses. RESULTS: Incidence of NEC was unchanged over the 28 years of study. Gestational age, birth weight, and birth-months (birth in April/May) were independently associated with stage II or III NEC even after adjusting for confounding factors (p < 0.05). Yearly NEC incidence showed a multi-modal distribution with spectral density spikes approximately every 10 years. CONCLUSION(S): Temporal and seasonal factors may play a role in NEC with a peak incidence in infants born in April/May and periodicity spikes approximately every 10 years. These trends suggest non-random and possibly environmental factors influencing NEC.
Authors: Chris Derienzo; P Brian Smith; David Tanaka; Nicholas Bandarenko; Mary Lee Campbell; Annadele Herman; Ronald N Goldberg; C Michael Cotten Journal: Early Hum Dev Date: 2014-03-02 Impact factor: 2.079