Objective: We evaluated the effect of late preterm delivery (34 to 36 weeks) on hospital mortality of infants with congenital heart defects (CHDs).
Study design: Retrospective record review of infants with major CHD born at or after to 34 weeks, cared for in a single tertiary perinatal center between 2002 and 2009. Factors associated with death before discharge from the hospital were ascertained using univariate and multivariate analyses.
Result: Of the 753 infants with CHD, 117 were born at late preterm. Using logistic regression analysis, white race (OR; 95% CI) (0.60; 0.39 to 0.95), late preterm delivery (2.70; 1.69 to 4.33), and need for intubation in the delivery room (3.15; 1.92 to 5.17) were independently associated with hospital death.
Conclusion: Late preterm birth of infants with major CHDs was independently associated with increased risk of hospital death compared with delivery at more mature gestational ages.