Infant readmission was related to early discharge, young gestational age, and breast feeding
Question Is a newborn infant's age at discharge associated with hospital readmission for hyperbilirubinaemia?
Design
Case control study.
Setting
A large community hospital associated with a university in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Participants
In a 6 year period, 127 newborn infants were readmitted to hospital because of hyperbilirubinaemia within 14 days of discharge from the well baby nursery. Control participants were 127 infants discharged in the same year who were not readmitted.
Assessment of risk factors
Maternal type 1 diabetes mellitus, maternal smoking, gestational age at birth (≤36, 36–37, >37–38, >38–39, >39–<40, and ≥40 wk), jaundice before discharge, breast feeding status, male sex, rupture of membranes ≥18 hours before birth, meconium, and hospital length of stay (<48, 48–<72, and ≥72 h).
Main outcome measure
Hospital readmission for hyperbilirubinaemia within …
