Objective. To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for chronic lung disease in a population
of very low birth weight infants.
Methods. In a prospective multicentric trial all very low birth weight infants (< 1500 g)
accepted in 36 Italian Neonatal Intensive care units were studied from February 89 to
January 99. For each patient were recorded maternal history, perinatal events, respiratory
disease, infections, patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity, intraventricular
haemorrhage and final outcome. Logistic regression analysis was performed in
a multivariate assessment of risk factors for chronic lung disease.
Results. In the study were included 1634 patients: 1387 infants survived beyond 36
weeks and 6.9% of them still oxygen dependent.
The incidence of chronic lung disease was higher among babies with a gestational age
of < 28 weeks and weight \ub2 1000 g. The multivariate analysis showed that low birth
weight, respiratory distress syndrome, persistent ductus arteriosus and sepsis were the
main risk factors.
Conclusions. In our study the incidence of chronic lung disease was relatively lo
