Neonatal respiratory distress: changes over 30 years in a geographically defined population

Objective: To document trends in the incidence of respiratory distress (RD), related interventions and mortality in neonates in a geographically defined population over 30 years. Method: RD was defined as the presence of at least 2 of the following symptoms persisting for 15 minutes or more: tachypnea >60/min, central cyanosis in room air, nasal flaring, retractions and expiratory grunting. In 1974, 1984, 1994 and 2004 a questionnaire was sent to all neonatal units in Switzerland to collect information about the number of infants admitted, infants with RD, needing surfactant, mechanical ventilation or CPAP and m…