Do differences in delivery room intubation explain different rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia between hospitals?
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the wide variation in the frequency of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) between hospitals is due to differences in delivery room intubation rates. METHODS: Data on 1260 infants of birth weight <1500 g and 23-31 weeks gestational age, born in 1999-2002 and surviving to 36 weeks, were collected; 196 (15.6%) developed BPD defined as oxygen need at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. Generalised estimating equations and conditional logistic models adjusting for centre, gestational age, propensity score for intubation, and other potential confounders were used. RESULTS: Rates of BPD, delivery room intubation and mechanical ventilation for >24 h differed significantly between hospitals. Centres with high delivery room intubation rates had higher ventilation and BPD rates. Hospitals ventilating more often also did so for a longer time. Although delivery room intubation was associated with BPD in unadjusted analyses, neither delivery room intubation nor brief (<24 h)
