AUTHOR=Cresi Francesco , Cocchi Enrico , Maggiora Elena , Pirra Alice , Logrippo Federica , Ariotti Maria Chiara , Peila Chiara , Bertino Enrico , Coscia Alessandra 

TITLE=Pre-discharge Cardiorespiratory Monitoring in Preterm Infants. the CORE Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.00234

DOI=10.3389/fped.2020.00234

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> Ensuring cardiorespiratory (CR) stability is essential for a safe discharge. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a new pre-discharge protocol named CORE on the risk of hospital readmission (RHR).</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Preterm infants admitted in our NICU between 2015 and 2018 were randomly assigned to CORE (exposed) or to standard (not-exposed) discharge protocol. CORE included 24 h-clinical observation, followed by 24 h-instrumental CR monitoring only for high-risk infants. RHR 12 months after discharge and length of stay represent the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Three hundred and twenty three preterm infants were enrolled. Exposed infants had a lower RHR (log-rank <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). The difference was especially marked 3 months after discharge (9.09 vs. 21.6%; <italic>p</italic> = 0.004). The hospital length of stay in exposed and not-exposed infants was 39(26–58) and 43(26–68) days, respectively (<italic>p</italic> = 0.16).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> The CORE protocol could help neonatologists to define the best timing for discharge reducing RHR without lengthening hospital stay.</p>