Hospital volume and mortality of very low-birthweight infants in South America.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the effects of hospital volume of very low-birthweight (VLBW) infants on in-hospital mortality of VLBW and very preterm birth (VPB) infants in South America.

Data sources/study setting

Birth-registry data for infants born in 1982-2008 at VLBW or very preterm in 66 hospitals in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.

Design

Regression analyses that adjust for several individual-level demographic, socioeconomic, and health factors; hospital-level characteristics; and country-fixed effects are employed.

Data collection/extraction methods

Physicians interviewed mothers before hospital discharge and abstracted hospital medical records using similar methods at all hospitals.

Principal findings

Volume has significant nonlinear beneficial effects on VL

SUBMITTER: Wehby GL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3360993 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature