The validity of the variable “<scp>NICU</scp> admission” as an outcome measure for neonatal morbidity: a retrospective study

Abstract

The severity of neonatal illness after 37 weeks of gestation differed depending on the line of care in which they were born, with neonates born in secondary care consistently having the highest morbidity, and those born in tertiary care having the lowest. NICU admission should not be used as an outcome measure for neonatal morbidity, specifically not when comparing different birth settings.