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Long-term pan-sector outcomes for New Zealand’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) graduates

Year:
2019
Duration:
12 months
Approved budget:
$313,491.00
Researchers:
Dr Benjamin McConchie
Host:
University of Otago
Health issue:
Obstetric complications/perinatal care
Proposal type:
Clinical Research Training Fellowship
Lay summary
A newborn’s admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) tempers any family’s excitement about the birth with concern regarding the immediate and long-term sequelae. Whether admission is due to preterm birth, fetal growth restriction or other surgical or medical complications, there is currently a paucity of data to inform parents, caregivers and policy makers on the life-course implications of early life adversity. The Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) provides high quality, de-identified information on national health, education and socio-economic outcomes into adulthood. Interrogation of the IDI will enable true characterization of the life-course impact of these sentinel events in early life. This novel project is an inter-sector collaboration from Pediatrics, Public Health and Biostatistics. Resultant data will be used to develop anticipatory guidance advice and a frame work for optimizing resource delivery for those at highest risk of neurodevelopmental or other health challenges.