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Characteristics and causes of death in children with neonatal abstinence syndrome
Author(s) -
Uebel Hannah,
Wright Ian M,
Burns Lucinda,
Hilder Lisa,
Bajuk Barbara,
Breen Courtney,
AbdelLatif Mohamed E,
Falconer Janet,
Clews Sarah,
Ward Meredith,
Eastwood John,
Oei Ju Lee
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.15091
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , hazard ratio , confidence interval , record linkage , population , cause of death , abstinence , gestation , demography , pregnancy , environmental health , psychiatry , disease , sociology , biology , genetics
Aim To determine characteristics of death in children with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Methods A population‐based linkage study of children from birth to 13 years of age in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, born 1 July 2000 to 31 December 2011. Infants with an International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Problems, Australian modification coding of NAS (P96.1, n = 3842) were compared to infants ( n = 1 018 421) without NAS by birth, hospitalisation and death records linkage. Results Forty‐five (1.2%) children with NAS died, compared to 3665 (0.4%) other children. Most deaths ( n = 30, 66%) in NAS children occurred between 1 month and 1 year. Risk of death was independently increased in full‐term children (hazard ratio 2.34, 95% confidence interval 1.63–3.35; P < 0.001) from lower socio‐economic groups (1.23, 1.12–1.35; P < 0.001), most commonly from ill‐defined or external causes, including assault and accidents ( P < 0.001). Conclusions Children with NAS, especially those of term gestation and from lower socio‐economic groups, are more likely to die, especially from external causes.