OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features, prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in neonates of different gestational ages (GA) in the tertiary hospitals in Northwest China.

METHODSA total of 440 neonates diagnosed with RDS between January and December, 2011 in 12 tertiary hospitals in Northwest China were enrolled and classified into three groups: early preterm (GA<34 weeks; n=247), late preterm (GA 34-36(+6) weeks; n=131) and full-term (GA≥37 weeks; n=62). The clinical data, including perinatal factors, prevention and treatment, complications and prognosis, were comparatively analyzed among the three groups.

RESULTSThe rate of multiple births in the early preterm group was higher than the other two groups. The two preterm groups showed a higher incidence of premature rupture of membranes than the full-term group. The full-term group had a higher rate of cesarean section without contractions than the two preterm groups. The early preterm group had the highest application rate of antenatal steroids. Compared with the other two groups, the early preterm group had a higher application rate of pulmonary surfactants (PS) and an earlier time of first application of PS. The full-term group had a lower resuscitation rate than the two preterm groups. The early preterm group showed a higher incidence of patent ductus arteriosus and intracranial hemorrhage than the other two groups. The cure rate of RDS (78.2%) was the highest in the full-term group, followed by the late preterm group (58.6%) and the early preterm group (42.9%).

CONCLUSIONSRDS infants of different GA in Northwest China have significant differences in perinatal factors, antenatal prevention, PS treatment, complications and prognosis.