Correlation between moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia and early breastfeeding in preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks

Objective To explore the correlation between moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and early breastfeeding in preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks.

Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 220 preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks. The preterm infants were dividedinto moderate to severe BPD group (37 cases) and control group (183 cases) based on whether moderate to severe BPD occurred or not. The clinical characteristics, breastfeeding volume, and mother's own milk (MOM) feeding rate were compared between the two groups, and the relationship between breastfeeding and the occurrence of moderate to severe BPD in preterm infants was analyzed.

Results Univariate analysis showed that the moderate to severe BPD group had a higher proportion of infants with birth weight < 1 500 g, gestational age < 28 weeks, vaginal delivery, Apgar score ≤ 7 at 1 minute after birth, and mechanical ventilation time ≥ 7 days compared to the control group(P < 0.05). The duration of intravenous nutrition was longer in the moderate to severe BPD group (P < 0.05). The moderate to severe BPD group had lower breast milk intake from 0 to 7 days after birth, MOM intake, MOM feeding rate, and breast milk intake from 8 to 14 days after birth compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that a high volume of breastfeeding from 0 to 7 days after birth was an independent protective factor for the occurrence of moderate to severe BPD in preterm infants (OR=0.865, 95%CI, 0.767 to 0.976, P < 0.05). Gestational age < 28 weeks (OR=5.238, 95%CI, 1.158 to 23.686, P < 0.05), and mechanical ventilation time ≥7 days (OR=22.386, 95%CI, 6.769 to 74.030, P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of moderate to severe BPD in preterm infants.

Conclusion Early breastfeeding after birth can significantly reduce the risk of moderate to severe BPD in preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks, and clinical measures should be actively implemented to promote early breastfeeding.