Abstract

Background: Survival in infants born at the borderline of viability has increased while new ventilation strategies have emerged. Aim: To assess how ventilation strategies and increased survival at lower gestational ages (GA) affected the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in Sweden over a decade. Methods: National register data of live-born infants at GA 22-26 weeks were compared for survival, BPD, severe BPD, and BPD or death in 2004-2007 (n=702) and 2014-2016 (n=885). Ventilation strategies and interventions were analyzed. Results: Median days on mechanical ventilation increased from 9 to 16 days (P<0.001), including increased use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, from median 0 to 7 days (P<0.001). High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) was introduced between the two periods, and total days of CPAP + HFNC increased from 44 to 52 days; P<0.001. Survival to 36 weeks? GA increased from 72% to 81%(P<0.001). BPD, defined as use of extra oxygen or any respiratory support at 36 weeks, increased from 59% to 68% (P=0.002), but after adjustment for GA, birth weight, sex, SGA ,and Apgar score this was not significant (adj.OR 1.19,CI 0.92-1.54, P=0.20). Incidence of severe BPD, defined as either >30% oxygen, CPAP or mechanical ventilation at 36 weeks, decreased from 25% to 21% (adj.OR 0.63,CI 0.47-0.85, P=0.003). The combined outcome of BPD or death increased from 70% to 74%, but this was not significant. Conclusion: A significantly increased survival at 22-26 weeks was associated with an increased time of invasive and non-invasive respiratory support. The risk of BPD increased from 59% to 67%, but in a multivariate analysis this was not significant, and the risk of severe BPD decreased significantly.