Bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very low birth weight infants is associated with prolonged hospital stay

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is associated with prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS) and delayed discharge home. Objectives: To evaluate the association between BPD and LOS and to assess the contribution of concomitant major morbidities on LOS among infants with BPD. Study design: A population-based observational study of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born from 1995 through 2003. Multivariate analyses, adjusted for perinatal variables, assessed the association between BPD and concomitant morbidities on LOS. Results: Of 10 134 survivors, 1926 (19.0%) had BPD. The adjusted LOS for infants with and without BPD was 84.1 days (95% CI, 82.8, 85.6) and 58.1 days (95% CI, 57.2, 59.0), respectively. Addition of a single concomitant morbidity increased mean LOS by 4 to 13 days. Conclusions: BPD is a major cause of increased length of hospitalization among VLBW infants. Preventive or therapeutic modalities are required to reduce the significant burden of this condition.