Data Associated with the Publication: Vital Sign Metrics of VLBW Infants in Three NICUs: Implications for Predictive Algorithms

This repository contains the dataset and code for the manuscript:
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<i>Zimmet AM, Sullivan BA, Fairchild KD, Moorman JR, Isler JR, Wallman-Stokes AW, Sahni R, Vesoulis ZA, Ratcliffe SJ, & Lake DE. Vital Sign Metrics of VLBW Infants in Three NICUs: Implications for Predictive Algorithms. Pediatric Research 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01428-3. </i>
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<b> EXPLANATION OF DATA FILES AND CODE </b>
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To understand all of the included data files and to tell you which key files do what, review the ReadMe_VitalSignMetrics_20200226.txt file.
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<b> HOW TO USE THE CODE </b>
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After reviewing ReadMe_VitalSignMetrics_20200226.txt file, follow the entire code progression from raw data (the raw data itself could not be published), to summary data (included in this repository), through figure generation, via the script Pipeline.m.
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<b>ABSTRACT</b>
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<b>Background:</b> Continuous heart rate (HR) and oxygenation (SpO<sub>2</sub>) metrics can be useful for predicting adverse events in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. To optimize the utility of these tools, inter-site variability must be taken into account.
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<b>Methods:</b> For VLBW infants at three NICUs, we analyzed the mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, and cross-correlation of electrocardiogram HR, pulse oximeter pulse rate, and SpO<sub>2</sub>. The number and durations of bradycardia and desaturation events were also measured. Twenty-two metrics were calculated hourly, and mean daily values were compared between sites.
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<b>Results:</b> We analyzed data from 1,168 VLBW infants from birth through day 42 (35,238 infant-days). HR and SpO<sub>2</sub> metrics were similar at the three NICUs, with mean HR rising by ~10 beats/minute over the first two weeks and mean SpO<sub>2</sub> remaining stable around 94% over time. The number of bradycardia events was higher at one site, and the duration of desaturations was longer at another site.
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<b>Conclusion:</b> Mean HR and SpO<sub>2</sub> were generally similar among VLBW infants at three NICUs from birth through six weeks of age, but bradycardia and desaturation events differed in the first two weeks after birth. This highlights the importance of developing predictive analytics tools at multiple sites.