Abstract

Aim: To compare mortality and respiratory morbidity in preterm infants born at 4 United Kingdom centers during 1994 and 1995.

Method: Collection of CRIB scores, respiratory parameters and mortality rates from unit databases.

Results: Mortality in center A was 27％ (actual number of deaths 36/135), in center B was 30％ (39/130), in center C was 28％ (51/182), in center D was 39％ (60/156). The rate of chronic lung disease (36 week definition) in center A was 16 ％, in center B was 12 ％, in center C was 13 ％, in center D was 15 ％. The predicted number of deaths by CRIB scores in center A was 54 (95％ confidence intervals 45–63), in center B was 33 (25–41), in center C was 53 (43–63), in center D was 46 (37–56).

Conclusion: Center A had a lower than predicted mortality. Center D had a higher than predicted mortality. There is an urgent need for a national neonatal database to allow comparison between center and to identify reasons for variation in outcomes.