Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are associated with reduced severe intraventricular hemorrhage in very-low-birth-weight infants

Objective To determine differences in severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) between very-low-birth-weight (<= 1500 g, VLBW) infants born to mothers with and without hypertensive disorders (HD). Design/methods Retrospective analysis from the Optum Neonatal Database. The primary outcome of interest was severe IVH (grade 3 or 4). Secondary outcomes included other neonatal morbidities, mortality, and length of hospitalization. Outcomes were compared between VLBW infants born to mothers with and without HD. Results A total of 5456 infants met inclusion criteria. After multivariable regression analysis, risks of severe IVH and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were lower ([OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.33-0.89, p = 0.01] and [OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58-0.97, p = 0.03], respectively) and median length of hospitalization was decreased in the HD group (49 versus 61 days, p < 0.001). Conclusions VLBW infants born to mothers with HD have a decreased risk of severe IVH, BPD, and a shorter duration of hospitalization.