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Neonatal BPD Outcome Estimator (2022)
Infants with GA 23-28 weeks & Birth Weight 501-1250g
Background Information
Data from the NICHD Neonatal Research Network were first used in 2011 to develop a web-based BPD estimator that accurately predicts the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)-defined according to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development consensus definition of no, mild, moderate, and severe BPD (Jobe 2001) - as well as the competing outcome of death, by postnatal day (Laughon 2011). The population includes infants 23-30 weeks gestation and 501-1250 grams birth weight. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136997/

Certain combinations of gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) occurred rarely in the data used to derive the model; therefore we have chosen not to provide estimates for these outlying pairs. These combinations are: GA=23 & BW >=750g; GA=24 & BW >=950g; GA=25 & BW >=1150g; GA=26 & BW >=1200g; GA=29 & BW <=649g; and, GA=30 & BW <=699g.

The BPD estimator was revised in 2022 to reflect the latest data and new definition of BPD. This population includes infants 23-28 weeks gestation and 501-1250 grams birth weight born 2011-2017. Infants who died within 12 hours or had syndromes or other major malformations were excluded. BPD was defined according to the latest NICHD definition of no, grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 BPD (Jensen 2019), as well as the competing outcome of death within 36 weeks postmenstrual age, by postnatal day.

The primary differences in the two estimators are that the new estimator is based on a more recent population, uses a more recent definition of BPD, and is unavailable for infants born at 29-30 weeks gestation. The following inputs are required for the new estimator: postnatal day (day 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28), gestational age (23-28 weeks), birthweight (501-1250 grams), ventilator type (HFV, CV, Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, CPAP, NC, Hood, No support), and FiO2 (21-100%). The remaining variables can be marked Unknown if the information is unavailable: race, sex, antenatal steroids (only entered for Day 1), and surgical NEC (only entered for days 14 and 28).


The equations for the 2022 calculations are available for researchers here.

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