Implementation Rate of Physical Rehabilitation in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Japan: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background and Objective: The benefits of physical rehabilitation for very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWI) have been reported in previous studies; however, the implementation rate of physical rehabilitation in this population remains to be clarified. This study aimed to examine the implementation rate of physical rehabilitation among VLBWI admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using real-world data. Material and Methods: This observational study obtained data from a nationwide administrative database associated with the diagnostic procedure combination (DPC) system in Japan (2014–2019). The participants were 30,464 infants admitted to the NICU between 2014 and 2019. The overall NICU physical rehabilitation rates and background factors of the participants were examined. Results: The overall physical rehabilitation rate in NICUs was 18%. Infants born at <28 weeks of age and extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI) were more likely to receive physical rehabilitation interventions. The length of stay at the NICU and hospital, as well as the rate of discharge, were higher in patients who received physical rehabilitation than those in infants who did not. Conclusions: One-fifth of all patients admitted to the NICU received physical rehabilitation interventions. Extremely preterm infants and ELBWI were more likely to receive physical rehabilitation interventions. We need to consider ways to increase physical rehabilitation intervention rates in the NICU.