Introduction: Infant born beforen37 weeks of gestation known as Preterm. Previously called Near term I.e infant born in gestation week 34 to 37 week known as Late Preterm .Preterm are more prone for increased morbidity and mortality as compared to Term. It is also associated with hospital readmission in 1^st year of life. The available literature in late preterm is limited and need to conduct study to know the outcome of late preterm in tertiary care hospital with respect to morbidity and mortality in late preterm.

Methodology: It is a single centric ,observational, prospective, descriptive study conducted at tertiary care hospital on Late Preterm admitted in NICU ,Duration of study is 18 month with 195 patient were included.

Inclusion Criteria: 1.Late Preterm(34 to 37 week)

2.Large for Gestational age and Appropriate for Gestational age

Exclusion Criteria:  1.Late Preterm with Small for Gestational age

2.Outborn delivery

3.Congenital Anomalies

Patient who were willing to participate and sign the informed consent were enrolled in study. Gestational age was assessed by Modified New Ballard Score.

Result: In total study population 69.7% kept with mother and 30.3% need NICU admission. Higher percentage of neonates with NBS score 34 week require NICU admission as compared to 36 weeks. (P<0.007).Most common indication of admission is Hyperbilirubinemia followed by HIE followed by TTN. Preterm with morbidity noted in only 2.6 %  most probably with Neonatal seizure .Mortality is 1%.

Conclusion: In studied population of gestational age 34 to 37 weeks have higher  magnitude of morbidities and mortality as compared to term neonates with increase in magnitude of severity as gestational age decreased.

Keywords: Late Preterm, Modified New Ballard Score, Near Term.

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Dr Kuldip Shimpi

Junior Resident 2, Department of Pediatrics