To evaluate the risk factors for hospital readmission during the neonatal period among late preterm infants who were discharged after nursery care.

In this retrospective study, we reviewed medical records of 135 late preterm infants readmitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the neonatal period, after discharge from nursery of IL Sin Christian Hospital from January 2003 to December 2008. We compared the risk factors of the hospital readmission group with the control group.

The gestational age and birth weight of 135 study infants were 36⁺¹±0.5 weeks and 2,718.4±296.9 gm, respectively. Identified risk factors of hospital readmission were breastfeeding (71.9% vs. 44.4%), short duration of nursery stay (3.3±1.6 days vs. 4.1±2.0 days), firstborn (60.0% vs. 45.3%), and maternal pregnancy complication (31.9% vs. 18.8%). Jaundice accounted for the majority of hospital readmissions (83.7%), and the age at hospital readmission was 6.2±3.6 postnatal days, mostly at 5-6 postnatal days (40.7%). Identified risk factors of hospital readmission due to jaundice were spontaneous normal vaginal delivery (43.4% vs. 1.8%), younger maternal age (29.8±3.4 yrs vs. 32.1±4.2 yrs), and lower maternal pregnancy complication (28.3% vs. 50%).

Identified risk factors of hospital readmission were breastfeeding, short duration of nursery stay, firstborn, and maternal pregnancy complication. Jaundice accounted for the majority of hospital readmissions, and the age at hospital readmission was 6.2±3.6 postnatal days.