Being small for gestational age is not an independent risk factor for mortality in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a multicenter study

Background Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) accounts for 8% of all major congenital anomalies. Neonates who are small for gestational age (SGA) generally have a poorer prognosis. We sought to identify risk factors and variables associated with outcomes in neonates with CDH who are SGA in comparison to neonates who are appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Methods We used the multicenter Diaphragmatic Hernia Research & Exploration Advancing Molecular Science (DHREAMS) study to include neonates enrolled from 2005 to 2019. Chi-squared or Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare categorical variables and t tests or Wilcoxon rank sum for continuous variables. Cox model analyzed time to event outcomes and logistic regression analyzed binary outcomes. Results 589 neonates were examined. Ninety were SGA (15.3%). SGA patients were more likely to be female ( p = 0.003), have a left sided CDH ( p = 0.05), have additional congenital anomalies and be diagnosed with a genetic syndrome ( p