RDS

Despite the many advances that have occurred in neonatology over the last 20 or more years, RDS remains a major cause of increased mortality and morbidity among preterm babies. Preterm infants who survive are also at risk of long-term morbidity, i.e. BPD and neurodevelopmental disorders (Dammann & Leviton 1997, Hallman M. Biol Neonate. 1999 Jun;76 Suppl 1:2-9 PubMed).

The incidence of RDS depends on the proportion of births that are pre-term. It is reduced with increasing gestational age. RDS affects about 60% of infants born at less than 30 weeks gestation. It is almost invariably present in infants <28 weeks of gestation (with 80% of the infants affected – Greenough A., Roberton NRC. 1999) and remains a significant problem in 25% of the infants born <34 weeks (Sweet DG, Halliday HL. Paedriatr Drugs 1999; 1: 19-30 PubMed).

RDS-related mortality represents approximately 10–15% of all neonatal deaths. Since the advent of surfactant there has been a marked reduction in mortality attributed to RDS. In the United Stated, infant mortality (mortality from birth up to one year of age) attributed to RDS decreased from 0.8 in 1987 to 0.4 per thousand live births in 1995 (Malloy MH et al. J Perinatol. 2000; 20: 414-20 PubMed).