JAMA Pediatrics: Association of Race/Ethnicity With Very Preterm Neonatal Morbidities

Key Points:

Question:  Are there racial/ethnic disparities in very preterm neonatal morbidity?

Findings:  In this population-based cohort study of 582 297 very preterm birth infants, substantial disparities in necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and retinopathy of prematurity were found between black and white infants as well as between Hispanic and white infants, and disparities in retinopathy of prematurity were also notable between Asian and white infants. Disparities measured instead with a standard approach in a very preterm birth cohort were attenuated or null.

Meaning:  Racial/ethnic disparities in very preterm neonatal morbidity are sizeable, and reports from very preterm birth cohorts may underestimate the magnitude of these disparities.

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Reference: Janevic T, Zeitlin J, Auger N, et al. Association of Race/Ethnicity With Very Preterm Neonatal Morbidities. JAMA Pediatr. Published online September 10, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.2029