Mortality reduction by heart rate characteristic monitoring in very low birth weight neonates: a randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To test the hypothesis that heart rate characteristics (HRC) monitoring improves neonatal outcomes.

Study design

We conducted a two-group, parallel, individually randomized controlled clinical trial of 3003 very low birth weight infants in 9 neonatal intensive care units. In one group, HRC monitoring was displayed; in the other, it was masked. The primary outcome was number of days alive and ventilator-free in the 120 days after randomization. Secondary outcomes were mortality, number of ventilator days, neonatal intensive care unit stay, and antibiotic use.

Results

The mortality rate was reduced in infants whose HRC monitoring was displayed, from 10.2% to 8.1% (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.61-0.99; P = .04; number needed to monitor = 48), and there was a t

SUBMITTER: Moorman JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3215822 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature