Three-year outcome following neonatal encephalopathy in a high-survival cohort

Abstract This study investigated the 3-year clinical outcomes in relation to the severity of encephalopathy in high-survival infants who underwent therapeutic hypothermia. This retrospective observational study was conducted in level II/III neonatal intensive care units in Japan. The nationwide cohort included 474 infants registered in the Baby Cooling Registry of Japan between January 2012 and December 2016. Clinical characteristics, mortality rate and severe neurological impairment at age 3 years were evaluated. Of the infants, 48 (10.4%), 291 (63.1%) and 122 (26.5%) had mild, moderate and severe encephalopathy, respectively, upon admission. By age 3, 53 (11.2%) infants died, whereas 110 (26.1%) developed major disabilities. The mild group survived up to age 3. In the moderate group, 13 (4.5%) died and 44 (15.8%) developed major disabilities. In the severe group, 39 (32.0%) died by age 3. Adverse outcomes were observed in 100 (82.0%) infants. Mortality was relatively low in all subgroups, but the incidence of major disabilities was relatively high in the severe group. The relatively low mortality and high morbidity may be due to Japanese social and ethical norms, which rarely encourage the withdrawal of intensive life support. Cultural and ethical backgrounds may need to be considered when assessing the effect of therapeutic interventions.