Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the impact of hospital setting on outcomes for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
Study design: We conducted a retrospective study in two hospitals and three different hospital units. The inpatient group (n = 60) was managed on general inpatient floors, the NICU group (n = 50) was managed primarily in an NICU, and the combination group (n = 49) was managed in both NICU and inpatient units. The primary outcome was length of stay. Secondary outcomes included breastfeeding rates, morphine usage rates, and hospital costs.
Results: The length of stay in the inpatient group (8.5 days) was significantly lower than the combination group (18 days) and NICU group (23 days) (p < 0.01). The inpatient group had significantly lower rates of morphine treatment and hospital costs with no difference in breastfeeding rates.
Conclusions: Infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome had a significantly shorter length of stay and less use of morphine when managed on inpatient units versus NICU.