Document Type

Article

Journal Title

Nutrients

Publication Date

2024

Volume

16

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Identifying nutritional interventions in extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants (<1000 >g) that are associated with favorable clinical outcomes is important. Delayed enteral feeding initiation (>3 days) has been associated with increased odds of developing morbidity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between hour of life at enteral feeding initiation and associated clinical outcomes.

METHODS: An IRB-approved retrospective chart review evaluated ELBW infants. Birth acuity was evaluated using CRIB II scoring and incidence of various morbidities (bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP)) and mortality was assessed after adjustment.

RESULTS: A total of 27/61 (44.3%) initiated enteral feedingNEC, SIP, or death between categories of hour of life at enteral feeding initiation. After adjusting for CRIB II scores, enteral feeding initiation ≥12 h of life was associated with more days receiving oxygen >21% inspired air (β = 32.7;

CONCLUSIONS: Timing of enteral feeding initiation may be delayed in ELBW infants with higher clinical acuity, yet later initiation by hour of life is associated with worsened clinical respiratory outcomes. Early initiation within the first 12 h of life is feasible and was not associated with gastrointestinal morbidity in this single-center cohort of ELBW infants.

MeSH Headings

Humans, Enteral Nutrition, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight, Retrospective Studies, Male, Female, Time Factors, Enterocolitis, Necrotizing, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Morbidity

ISSN

2072-6643

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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