Abstract
BACKGROUND: Apnea of prematurity affects a small proportion but large absolute number of late preterm infants, with out-patient management variably utilized despite relative clinical equipoise and potential for improved cost-effectiveness. METHODS: Over a 5-y period, from 2009 to 2013, infants born at >34 weeks gestational age at a level IIIB academic center in Boston, Massachusetts, with discharge-delaying apnea, bradycardia, and desaturation (ABD) events were identified. In-patient costs for discharge-delaying ABD events were compared with hypothetical out-patient management. Out-patient costs took into account 4–10 d of in-patient observation for ABD events before caffeine initiation, 3–5 d of additional in-patient observation before discharge, daily caffeine until 43 weeks corrected gestational age, home pulse oximetry monitoring until 44 weeks corrected gestational age, and consideration of variable readmission rates ranging from 0 to 10%. RESULTS: A total of 425 late preterm and term infants were included in our analysis. Utilization of hypothetical out-patient management resulted in cost savings per eligible patient ranging from $2,422 to $62, dependent upon variable periods of in-patient observation. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated few instances of decreased relative cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Out-patient management of discharge-delaying ABD events in a late pre- term and term population was a cost-effective alternative to prolonged in-patient observation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 42-48 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Respiratory care |
Volume | 62 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2017 |
Keywords
- Apnea
- Bradycardia
- Cost
- Desaturation
- Home monitor
- Late preterm
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine