Incidence and factors associated with dysphagia in infants born very preterm or very low birth weight.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of dysphagia and define the associated co-morbidities in infants born very preterm (VP) or very low birth weight (VLBW). STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating 158 VP or VLBW infants born over two years. Forty infants diagnosed with dysphagia confirmed by flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing were compared to 118 infants with no dysphagia. RESULTS: The incidence of dysphagia was 25%. After adjusting for gestational age and birth weight, dysphagia was associated with morbidities such as necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and intracranial hemorrhage. Regression analyses indicated that dysphagia was associated with higher central line days and longer hospital length of stay. Feeds were thickened in 38 infants (95%) before discharge and 3 infants (7.5%) needed gastrostomy tube. CONCLUSION: Dysphagia is an important morbidity affecting a quarter of the infants born VP or VLBW. Significant associations with other major morbidities were noted.