Characteristics of late preterm infant readmissions: A systematic review.

Background: Prematurity represents a critical health disparity. It is important to note that late preterm (LPT) infants comprise the majority of preterm births, yet they are the least studied within the premature population. Evidence-based practice guidelines are now a decade old, indicating the potential need for review and revision.

Objectives: This systematic review proposed the assessment of sociodemographic characteristics of LPT infants, clinical practice standards, and associated hospital readmission rates, mortality, and morbidity to determine the need for revision of evidence-based practice guidelines for these infants.

Data sources: The Preferred Reporting System Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analysis methodology provided the framework for the completion of this review. Literature searches of PubMed/Medline (Ovid), Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing, and Allied Health Literature Plus databases and citation searches included articles published after 2012 using the search terms "late preterm infants," "readmissions," and "readmission rates."

Conclusions: The literature search identified 11 studies meeting search criteria. These studies included quasi experimental, retrospective, and prospective cohort studies. These studies highlighted the characteristics of LPT infants that potentially contribute to increased readmission rates, morbidity and mortality rates, health care costs, and long-term health inequities. Overall findings indicate the need for review and revision of evidence-based practice guidelines for these infants.

Implications for practice: This systematic review manifests the vulnerability of LPT infants and the accompanying need for up-to-date clinical practice guidelines to effectively reduce their morbidity and mortality rates, hospital readmissions rates, and burden of health care costs.