Friday, May 9, 2008

Survival for Early Babies

As reported by BBC News, the latest study done by BMJ research in the UK shows us that babies born 23 weeks or earlier are no more likely to survive than they were a decade ago, while there are significant improvements in survival rates for babies born 24 weeks and on.

The survival rate for 24-week babies rose from 24% in 1994-1999 to 41% in 2000-2005. Those rates were even better for 25-week babies, 52% to 63%.

Professor David Field, University of Leicester, mentions:

“What we've tried to do is give people the raw numbers and then they can make their own mind up

This study was special because instead of focusing on one hospital with a specialist neonatal unit, the work was span across 16 different hospitals in the UK.


Watch this video from BBC News to see Professor David Field talk more about his results.

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