College of Graduate Nursing, Western University of Health Sciences, California, USA
Received date: 29/09/2017; Accepted date: 13/10/2017; Published date: 23/10/2017
Copyright: © 2017 Edwards QT, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Newborn readmission for hyperbilirubinemia (HB) increased by 160% in the past decade. Hospital readmission rates are higher among healthy term newborns who are exclusively breastfed compared to similar newborns with other feeding types. HB is preventable with frequent breastfeeding during the immediate postnatal period. Purpose: Describe readmission rates, costs and demographic factors of healthy term newborns hospitalized with HB from years 2013 to 2015 at a Baby-Friendly Hospital. Methods: Retrospective data of 192 healthy term newborns. Findings: HB rates decreased by 35.5% one year after recognition as a Baby-Friendly Hospital. Over 92% of newborns readmitted were breastfed with length of hospital stay 1 to 3 days and median costs $8,777 to $10, 784. Age, maternal (rs=0.27, p=0.0002) and newborn (rs=0.25, p=0.0004), and parity (rs=0.19, p=0.0082) were related to total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels at readmission with maternal and newborn age predictors of TSB level (F=9.12, 2 df, p<0.0001). Race, feeding type, gender or gestation was not associated with TSB (p>0.05). Conclusion: Results aid in future patient centered strategies of home visits and telephone follow-up emphasizing supportive breastfeeding to reduce HB readmissions of healthy-term newborns.
New-born hyperbilirubinemia, New-born jaundice, Breastfeeding, New-born readmission rates
Jaundice, a medical condition that results in an observable yellowish pigmentation to the sclera and skin, is a common and often harmless condition occurring in many full-term healthy new-borns during the post-natal period [1,2]. The discoloration is due to high blood levels of bilirubin referred as hyperbilirubinemia (HB) with clinical symptoms usually manifesting within the first week of life [3,4]. For the majority of new-born HB cases, the condition referred to as physiological jaundice is non-pathological, often mild and resolves spontaneously warranting no treatment. For some healthy term new-borns however, particularly those who are exclusively breastfed, the serum bilirubin levels can increase requiring hospital readmission to prevent adverse health outcomes and even death. This is significant since annual newborn hospital readmission rates for new-born HB have increased by 160% over the past decade [5]. This increase in hospital readmission for HB is considered a U.S. public health concern due to morbidity, increased costs, the potential for mortality, as well as anxiety and stress for family members [6]. Severe HB can lead to acute encephalopathy occurring within the first weeks of life or result in chronic and permanent neurological problems associated with bilirubin toxicity or kernicterus [7].
Readmission rates for HB among healthy new-borns who are breastfed are considered preventable. Implementation of primary preventive measures can play an important role towards reducing or eliminating HB readmission rates among breastfed new-borns. Ensuring educative measures and breastfeeding support are important to eliminating new-born HB as inadequate breastfeeding or insufficient breast milk production that can lead to new-born poor caloric intake and dehydration have been attributed to the condition [3]. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends regular breastfeeding 8 to 12 times per day for the first several days after birth to decrease the risk of HB among breastfed infants [7]. Facilities recognized as Baby-Friendly Hospitals have shown to increase the rate of breastfeeding by providing comprehensive evidence-based care to achieve optimal breast feeding outcomes and bonding as part of maternity care [8,9]. However, prior studies of new-born HB readmission rates within 7-days post discharge have not always shown to be impacted solely by these hospitals [9,10], particularly given the declining length of hospital stays after birth that average 48 h for most healthy term new-borns and non-complicated deliveries [11].
Previous studies have found that certain maternal and/or new-born socio-demographic characteristics may also affect HB among healthy term new-borns. Exclusive breastfeeding for example, has shown to be a risk factor in healthy term new-borns with HB when compared to other feeding strategies [12-15]. Some studies have also shown that Asian and Caucasian mothers had higher rates of new-borns readmitted for HB when compared to other racial/ethnic groups such as African Americans or Hispanics [12,14,16]. Others studies found that women aged 25 years and older or first term mothers were predictors of new-borns diagnosed with HB [12,14], but conflicting findings were also found in a study that revealed no significant difference in maternal age and new-born HB [13]. In one study that assessed both maternal and new-born factors regarding HB and readmission, male gender and the presence of a cephalohematoma at time of birth were found to predict extreme neonatal HB [14]. When these new-born factors were assessed further with maternal demographic factors of age and race, exclusive breastfeeding and early jaundice were found to be the ‘strongest predictors’ of new-born HB and readmission [14].
Breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding, continues to be the recommended source of new-born nutrition by the AAP and other professional organizations based upon maternal health benefits and its optimal effect on infant health, growth and development [17,18]. While HB tend to be higher among breastfed new-borns compared to other newborn feeding types, evidence have shown that the rates of the disorder can be prevented or reduced among healthy term infants with regular breast feedings with appropriate follow-up in the first few days after discharge as recommended by the AAP [6,7,19]. Community referrals or home visits can also provide measures to improve breastfeeding post-delivery as mothers of new-borns with HB often reported poor feeding patterns prior to their new-born becoming jaundiced [1]. Further, it is estimated that over 50% of mothers experience problems with breastfeeding that can reduce the frequency of breastfeeding and breast milk production [20].
The purpose of this study was to: (1) describe and compare the number/percentage of new-borns readmitted with HB during each of the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 and assess trends over time; (2) describe total serum bilirubin levels and the bilirubin risk zones of new-borns; (3) describe the maternal and new-born demographic characteristics and costs of readmissions; and (4) assess whether maternal or new-born demographic characteristics predict readmission rates. Data from the study will be used to develop future primary prevention strategies to reduce HB among breastfed infants through appropriate follow-up after delivery and provide support to mothers who breastfeed that fosters regular/ continuous breastfeeding 8 to 12 times per day during the early postnatal period.
A retrospective chart review of new-borns re-admitted for HB during the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 provided the data source and design for the current study. The review was conducted at a designated Baby-Friendly Hospital recognized since 2014 as a facility that offers breastfeeding mothers information, confidence and other skills necessary to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding of their infants [21]. The hospital was selected as the study’s setting due to researcher accessibility, its large number of annual births and its designated title as a Baby-Friendly Hospital. The hospital delivers more than 7000 babies annually, offering a wide range of obstetrical services to low and high-risk mothers [22]. New-born inclusion criteria at the time of data collection included: (a) healthy full-term new-borns without a prior or current medical condition at time of birth; and (b) current diagnosis of HB at time of readmission as determined by the appropriate International Classification of Disease Diagnosis Code (ICD-10-CM) P59.9 recorded on the computerized record. For the purpose of this study, full-term included new-borns at time of maternal delivery with a documented ≥ 37 weeks gestational age. While the study focused predominantly on HB among breastfed infants, all new-borns who met the inclusion criteria regardless of feeding type were included in the study with specific analyses conducted on those who were exclusively breastfed or a combination of breast and bottle fed with bilirubin levels compared with that of bottle fed infants. New-borns were excluded from the study if there was a history of any of the following: (a) preterm new-borns or gestational age <37 weeks; (b) a prior or current history of other diagnoses; and (c) non-diagnosis of HB at time of readmission.
A spread sheet was used to record data collected from the new-born’s medical records. No patient identifiers (i.e., name, address, etc.) were retrieved or included in the study. The non-identifying information comprised solely of maternal and new-born demographic characteristics to meet the study’s purposes based upon prior literature review and included the following: (1) age of the infant at time of readmission; (2) new-born gender; (3) type of feeding; (4) new-born length of hospital after readmission; (5) maternal age at time of birth; (6) parity; (7) gestational age at time of delivery; (8) total serum bilirubin level at time of readmission; (9) race/ethnicity; (10) year of admission; and (11) costs of hospitalization. There were 192 new-borns who were hospitalized for HB during the 3 year time period assessed and who met the inclusion criteria for the study. Data that incorporated the 11 variables were extracted from the medical records of all 192 new-born for study analyses. The study protocol was approved by the Baby –Friendly hospital, the Western University of Health Sciences and the California Baptist University institutional review boards prior to data collection. Because this was a retrospective chart review, informed consent was not required and waived.
Descriptive analyses were conducted on all study variables. Continuous/ratio variables of age in days of the infant at time of readmission, maternal age in years, parity, gestational age at time of delivery, new-born length of hospital stay in days, total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels and costs of hospitalization were first analyzed for normality, and if determined normal level data, were then reported using minimum, maximum, mean (M), standard deviation (SD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) levels; non-normal data were described via the median (Md) and 95% CI of the Md. Categorical data for newborn gender, type of feeding (i.e., exclusive breast; bottle; breast and bottle) and race/ethnicity were analyzed via frequency counts (N) and percentages. The number of new-borns readmitted for HB were stratified for each of the 3 years (2013, 2014, 2015) to describe trend data and summarized to reflect the number of admissions overall for the entire time period.
The actual TSB level of the new-born at time of readmission was recorded from the medical record and was reported in mg/dL. The TSB level serves as a measure of HB and provides a means to measure concentrations of bilirubin that reflects the effects of bilirubin production, conjugation and liver effects. In the majority of healthy term new-borns, increased levels of bilirubin causing jaundice usually last approximately 5 days with TSB up to 12 mg/dL decreasing to approximately 2 mg/dL (normal levels) within two weeks [23]. In a study that evaluated 1,044 predominantly breastfed new-borns regarding natural history of jaundice, one in every three new-borns had TCB levels of ≥ 5 mg/dL with one out of five appearing jaundice at 1 month after birth [24]. It is estimated that nearly 2% to 4% of exclusively breastfed infants will have jaundice with TSB levels in excess of 10 mg/dL in the third week of life. Moreover, approximately 97% of term new-borns will have TSB levels less than 13 mg/dL with further evaluation and work-up usually warranted for infants with levels over 13 mg/dL [25]. Extremely high bilirubin levels (TSB>20-25 mg/dL) are of particular concern as these levels significantly increase the risk of acute encephalopathy and kernicterus [26].
While the TSB levels were used to describe new-born’s HB, additional analyses were conducted based on the TSB level at time of admission and new-born’s age in hours (recalculated from age in days). The TSB and postnatal age in hours were then plotted and analyzed based upon a nomogram depicting four levels of bilirubin risk zones (BRZ): (1) low risk zone; (2) low intermediate risk zone; (3) high intermediate risk zone; and (4) high-risk zone (Figure 1). The BRZ is normally used to assess systematic risk after birth and prior to discharge [7]; however, for the purpose of this study the zones were also used to ‘describe the bilirubin risk at time of readmission’ based upon the TSB and new-born’s age (in hours). Because data are displayed for BRZ for new-borns aged 0 to 144 h, those new-borns readmitted for HB and who were over the age of 144 h were not analyzed using this measure. The TSB levels and new-born’s BRZs provide two sources of measures to describe new-born’s HB at time of admission and the severity of the disorder based upon quantifiable measures.
Figure 1: Nomogram representing bilirubin risk zones based upon serum bilirubin level and post-natal age in hours. Reproduced with permission from Copyright Clearance Center, American Academy of Pediatrics.
Inferential statistics were also conducted to determine if any of the demographic variables predicted new-born HB at time of readmission. New-born age at time of readmission, new-born gender, type of feeding, maternal age at time of birth, parity, race/ethnicity and gestational age at time of delivery served as independent or predictor variables of the study. Total serum bilirubin level and the BRZ at time of readmission were dependent/outcome variables used in the study. Initial statistical tests were conducted to determine if there was a relationship or association between the predictor variables and the outcome variables of TSB or BRZ using Pearson correlation or Spearman Rho, if non-normal data or Pearson Chi-Square or Fisher exact test based upon the level of measurement. The independent t-test or Mann- Whitney U and the Analysis of Variance or non-parametric Kruskall-Wallis tests were also used as appropriate to assess independent categorical variables (gender; race/ethnicity, feeding type) and the outcome variable of TSB. Reported p values at p<0.05 were further analyzed using multinomial logistic regression or multiple regression based upon the outcome variable BRZ or TSB respectively to determine predictors of new-born HB readmission. Analyses were conducted using NCSS statistical program version 10.0 (NCSS, LLC, Kaysville, Utah).
Data was collected and analyzed on 192 new-borns that met the inclusion criteria. The number of healthy-term newborn diagnosed and readmitted for HB varied over the 3 year period of the study, but declined over time with the lowest number of cases (N=49) reported in 2015, compared to the years 2013 (N=67) and 2014 (N=76). These findings indicated a 35.5% reduction in the number of cases in 2015 when compared the prior year, favourable downward trend post recognition of the facility as a Baby-Friendly Hospital that was awarded in 2014.
Descriptive Data – New-born Demographic Characteristics
Most of the new-borns diagnosed with HB were male, had a Md age at time of admission at 6 days (95% CI of Md 5, 6) and were exclusively breastfed at time of readmission. The TSB levels of all new-borns were elevated at time of readmission, confirming the diagnosis of HB with levels ranging from a low of 10.5 mg/dL to a high level of 27.9 mg/dL and averaging 18.5 mg/dL (95% CI, 18.5, 19.2). Table 1 provides a summary of the demographic characteristics of newborns readmitted for HB.
| Demographic Characteristics | Number (%) |
|---|---|
| Infant’s Gender (N=192) | |
| Male | 107 (55.7) |
| Infant Feeding Status (N=192) | |
| Breast (only) | 179 (60.4) |
| Breast and Bottle | 63 (32.8) |
| Bottle | 13 (6.8) |
| Infant’s Age at Time of Hospitalization (days) (N=192) | |
| 2-3 | 16 ( 8.3) |
| 4-5 | 71 (37.0) |
| 6-7 | 65 (33.9) |
| 8 to 14 | 36 (18.7) |
| 15 to 27 | 4 (2.1) |
| Length of Status (days) (N=192) | |
| One | 135 (70.3) |
| Two | 50 (26.0) |
| Three | 7 (3.7) |
| Bilirubin Status at Time of Hospitalization, mg/dL (N=191) | |
| *M 18.8 (SD 2.7; 95% CI=18.5, 19.2) | |
| ≤ or equal 17 mg/dL | 36 (18.9) |
| 18 and over | 155 (81.1) |
| Total Serum Bilirubin Levels by Type of Feeding (M mg/dL) | M (SD) |
| Exclusively Breastfeeding | 18.7 (2.8) |
| Breast and Bottle Feeding | 18.8 (2.5) |
| Bottle Feeding | 19.6 (2.1) |
Table 1: Demographic characteristics of new-borns hospitalized for hyperbilirubinemia at one hospital in Southern California (N= 192).
Of the 192 new-borns readmitted for HB, 117 (60.9%) were analyzed according to the BRZ nomogram (age of readmission among new-borns ≤ 144 h old). When assessed by age in hours, the ages of the new-borns ranged from 48 to 144 h (Md 144; 95% CI, 120, 144). The majority (93.2%) of the new-borns diagnosed with HB had BRZ levels that were characterized in the high-intermediate or high-risk zone with 75.2% of new-borns considered at the high-risk zone or 95% percentile with regards to TSB based upon age (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Bilirubin risk zones and new-born age in hours at time of hospital readmission among healthy-term new-borns with hyperbilirubinemia.
Descriptive Data - Maternal Demographic Characteristics
Maternal age was available on 183 of the 192 women who delivered during the 3 year time period (95.3%). Overall age of all of the participants ranged from 14 to 42 years with the average age at 28.5 years (SD, 5.5; 95% CI, 27.7, 29.3). There were slightly more women who were multiparous compared to first time mothers. Over half of the mothers were of Hispanic race/ethnicity, which was representative of the community’s racial/ethnicity group. Most women (67.2%) delivered at less than 40 weeks gestation but all were considered ‘term’ (defined at ≥ 37 weeks gestation). Table 2 provides a summary of the maternal demographic characteristics of new-borns diagnosed and readmitted for HB.
| Demographic Characteristics | Number (%) |
|---|---|
| Maternal Age at time of Delivery (years) (N=183*) | |
| ≤ 20 | 14 (7.7) |
| 21 to 30 | 100 (54.6) |
| 31 to 40 | 67 (36.6) |
| 41 and over | 2 (1.1) |
| Race/Ethnicity (N=191*) | |
| Hispanic/Latino | 109 (57.1) |
| Caucasian/White | 38 (19.9) |
| Asian | 29 (15.2) |
| Other (not specified) | 13 (16.8) |
| African American/Black | 2 (1.0) |
| Maternal Parity after Delivery (N=190*) | |
| 1 | 88 (48.9) |
| 2 | 46 (25.6) |
| 3-8 | 46 (25.5) |
| Gestational Age at time of Delivery** (N=192) | |
| Less than 40 weeks | 129 (67.2) |
| 40 weeks and over | 63 (32.8) |
Table 2: Maternal demographic characteristics of newborns hospitalized for hyperbilirubinemia at one hospital in Southern California Hospital (N=192), * Missing data; **Gestational age 37 weeks; M: Mean; SD: Standard Deviation; CI: Confidence Intervals.
Predictors of New-Born Hyperbilirubinemia
All of the independent/predictor variables were first assessed to determine if the maternal or new-born demographic characteristics were statistically related or associated with new-born’s TSB and BRZ respectively depending upon the level of measurement. There was a statistically significant positive correlation for maternal age (rs=0.27, p=0.0002), new-born’s age at time of admission (rs=0.25, p=0.0004) and maternal parity (rs=0.19, p=0.008) with that of TSB levels at the time of the new-born’s hospital readmission for HB. There were no differences in the maternal demographic characteristics of race/ethnicity (F=1.27, df 4, p=0.28), type of feeding status (exclusively breast, breast and bottle or bottle) (F=0.50, df 2, p=0.60), nor gestational age (rs=0.11, p=0.83) and new-born’s TSB levels at time of readmission. When race/ethnicity and type of feeding status were further assessed regarding BRZ, neither variable was found to be statistically associated with new-born’s BRZ at time of HB diagnosis and hospital readmission (race/ethnicity X2=1.5, df 4, p=0.83; type of feeding status X2=0.46, df 2, p=0.79). Similar non-statistically significant findings were found regarding new-born’s gender and BRZ (X2=0.11, df 1, p=0.74).
New-born age at time of admission, maternal age and parity were further assessed as predictor variables for high TSB levels via a multiple linear regression model. When the three variables were all entered simultaneously into the model, only new-born age and maternal age were found to be predictors of high TSB levels at time of new-born readmission for HB (F=9.19, df 3, p<0.0001; R2=0.134) with these two variables explaining 13.4% of the variance.
Additional Data – New-Born Length of Hospital Stay and Costs
Length of hospital stay (LOS) has been associated with HB [27]. New-borns readmitted for HB often have socioeconomic burdens associated with length of hospital stay and hospital costs due to management of the HB that has the potential for familial anxiety and stress. The LOS among new-borns readmitted for HB in this current study ranged from 1 to 3 days (Md, 1) with no difference in the LOS by feeding type. Hospital costs of the 192 new-borns assessed in this current study varied from a minimum cost of $42 to maximum costs of $29,720 dollars as reported via data on the medical record. Median hospital costs were $9,798 (95% CI of Md $8,777, $10,784) with costs varying by feeding type of $10,629, $10,074 and $9,002 for new-borns who were exclusively breastfed, breast and bottle fed or solely bottle fed respectively at time of readmission. The Md hospital costs also increased as LOS increased with a 3 day LOS at $15,903 compared to $8,608 for a 1 day LOS.
In this study, readmission rates for new-born HB continue resulting in significant costs however, readmission for the disorder in this Baby-Friendly Hospital were low, accounting for only 1.0% of all total births. Further, a significant 35.5% reduction in healthy term new-born readmission rates for HB was observed 1 year after recognition of this facility as a Baby-Friendly Hospital. These positive findings may be attributed to educational and supportive breastfeeding initiatives that were established from required protocols for Baby-Friendly Hospitals. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to ensure rates of readmissions for HB among healthy term new-borns continue to decrease.
Prior studies have shown that newborns who are breastfed, particularly among those who are exclusively breastfed, are more likely to have HB that requires hospitalization than new-borns who are bottle fed [12,15,28]. These findings were consistent with the current study that found 93.2% of new-borns were receiving some type of breast feeding prior to readmission with most (60.4%) exclusively breastfeeding. While breastfeeding was a major contributing factor in newborn readmission for HB, TSB or BRZ levels at time of new-born readmission for the disorder were similar despite feeding type prior to hospitalization. Slightly higher Md TSB levels of 19 mg/dL were found among bottle fed new-borns compared to 18 mg/dL Md TSB levels among exclusively breastfed or breast and bottle fed new-borns.
Jaundice due to HB usually occurs visibly in the first 2 to 4 days of life resolving spontaneously in one to two weeks [28]. In this study, the occurrence of jaundice among new-borns diagnosed with HB frequently required readmission during the first week of the new-born’s life. This finding denotes the importance of meeting AAP guidelines in reducing or preventing HB through continuous and frequent feedings during the first several days of the post-natal period among new-borns who are breastfed with appropriate follow-up evaluation of all new-borns several days post-discharge [7]. This is especially important given the evidence that shortened hospital stays for normal healthy term new-borns (often ≤ 48 h) frequently result in new-born HB readmission [15].
Some studies have shown that maternal age, particularly women aged 25 years and older, was related to high levels of HB compared to younger aged women [16,29]. Further, first term mothers were more likely to have higher TSB levels warranting readmission for HB compared to mothers who had prior births. Comparable findings were found in the current study. Lack of maternal knowledge regarding proper breastfeeding and infrequent and non-continuous feedings regardless of age and parity may contribute to these findings. Up to 50% of mothers experience problems with breastfeeding after hospital discharge that can result in decreases in breastfeeding frequency and/or production of breast milk [20].
In this study, there were no differences in race/ethnicity on TSB or BRZ levels. Some studies have shown that mothers of Caucasian or Asian race/ethnicity are more likely to have new-borns readmitted for HB compared to other racial/ ethnic groups [12,14]. While the exact reason for these racial differences is unclear, possible explanations may be due to a variant in the UGT1A1 gene that is responsible for metabolism and excretion of bilirubin. Variants in this gene particularly among new-borns may impair the ability to eliminate bilirubin that contributes to HB with higher rates of the genetic variants found among certain racial/ethnic groups especially individuals of Asian descent [13,30,31]. In the current study there were no differences in the TSB levels by race/ethnicity these findings could be explained by the lack of racial diversity among the new-borns that were predominantly of Hispanic race/ethnicity.
A past study revealed that the average LOS for readmission of new-born HB was two to three days compared to that of one day in this current study. Despite lower LOS, high costs in this study were comparable to past studies averaging $4,548 to $8,893 [32,33].
New-born readmission for HB among healthy new-borns particularly among breastfed new-borns is preventable. Implementation of strategies like home nursing visits during the first 10 days of new-borns after birth has shown to reduce HB readmission rates and costs [33]. Understanding factors assessed in this study are useful in developing future culturally-sensitive strategies to reduce and prevent new-born HB. Intervention study comparing the effects of home visits and follow-up telephone consultations to that of traditional follow-up during the immediate post-natal period is under consideration to determine the effectiveness of reducing new-born HB readmission rates.
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