Hoe ziek is de neonatale intensive care-patiënt? Beperkte prognostische betekenis van het 'Neonatal therapeutic intervention scoring system' voor sterfte en voor psychomotore ontwikkeling in het eerste levensjaar

To study the Neonatal therapeutic intervention scoring system (NTISS-score) as a prognostic indicator for mortality and psychomotor development in newborns admitted to an intensive care unit.

Design

Retrospective.

Setting

Neonatal intensive care unit, Sophia Hospital, Zwolle, the Netherlands.

Method

The medical files of all neonates (n = 152) admitted for intensive care in 1991 were studied. The NTISS scores at admission were compared of infants with birthweights < 1500 g and ≥ 1500 g and in these groups of infants who died and infants who survived and of infants with normal and with abnormal psychomotor development in the first year of life regardless of their birthweight (data of 110 children were available from outpatient clinic control or reports from paediatricians).

Results

22 infants died. There was no significant correlation between NTISS score and birthweight or gestational age (r = -0.07 and -0.03 respectively). In the group of very low birthweight infants, the NTISS score was significantly higher of the infants who died (25.9; SD: 4.3) than of those who survived (15.9; 5.0). The NTISS score did not differ between infants with normal and with abnormal psychomotor development.

Conclusion

The NTISS score at admission only correlates with mortality in infants with birthweights < 1500 g. There is no correlation with mortality in infants with birthweights ≥ 1500 g, with gestational age or with psychomotor development in the first year of life.