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BACKGROUNDS. The frequency of preterm deliveries is increasing and late preterm newborns (from 34 to 36 weeks of gestation) represent the majority of preterm infants. There was therefore a need to test the hypothesis that the higher incidence of morbidity in this group significantly prolongs their hospital stay following birth.

METHODS. This was a population based study in new borns born between 34 and 42 weeks of gestation from January 2008 to January 2009 at the Department of Perinatology of the Maribor University Clinical Center. The data were taken from two medical record data bases: Perinatal Information System of Slovenia and Medical Information System of the Maribor University Clinical Center. This birth cohort was divided into term (n = 1.861) and late preterm groups (n = 100). The objective of our investigation was the length of hospital stay. The analysed variables were: mode of delivery, respiratory morbidity, neonatal infections, jaundice, and dehydration. These variables were compared between the investigated groups and their inf luence on hospital stay was studied.

RESULTS. The average length of hospital stay was 7.7 days for late preterm and 4.2 days for term newborns, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Significantly higher rates of cesarean sections in late preterm infants and significantly higher incidences of respiratory morbidity, neonatal infections, jaundice, and dehydration along with their treat ment significantly prolonged their hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS. The results of our study confirmed the hypothesis that late preterm infants have significantly higher morbidity rates, a greater need for treatment in neonatal special care units, and significantly longer hospital stays following birth.