It is likely that donor milk provides short-term cost savings by reducing the incidence of NEC .
BACKGROUND Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is a costly gastrointestinal disorder that mainly affects preterm and low-birth-weight infants and can lead to considerable morbidity and mortality .
Mother 's own milk is protective against NEC but is not always available .
In such cases , donor human milk has also been shown to be protective ( although to a lesser extent ) compared with formula milk , but it is more expensive .
This systematic review aim ed at evaluating the cost of donor milk , the cost of treating NEC , and the cost-effectiveness of exclusive donor milk versus formula milk feeding to reduce the short-term health and treatment costs of NEC .
Positive Effect of Human Milk Feeding during NICU Hospitalization on 24 Month Neurodevelopment of Very Low Birth Weight Infants: An Italian Cohort Study
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of human milk feeding during NICU hospitalization on neurodevelopment at 24 months of corrected age in very low birth weight infants . A cohort of 316 very low birth weight newborns ( weight ≤ 1500 g ) was prospect ively enrolled in a follow-up program on admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of S. Orsola Hospital , Bologna , Italy , from January 2005 to June 2011 . Neurodevelopment was evaluated at 24 months corrected age using the Griffiths Mental Development Scale . The effect of human milk nutrition on neurodevelopment was first investigated using a multiple linear regression model , to adjust for the effects of gestational age , small for gestational age , complications at birth and during hospitalization , growth restriction at discharge and socio-economic status . Path analysis was then used to refine the multiple regression model , taking into account the relationships among predictors and their temporal sequence . Human milk feeding during NICU hospitalization and higher socio-economic status were associated with better neurodevelopment at 24 months in both models . In the path analysis model intraventricular hemorrhage — periventricular leukomalacia and growth restriction at discharge proved to be directly and independently associated with poorer neurodevelopment . Gestational age and growth restriction at birth had indirect significant effects on neurodevelopment , which were mediated by complications that occurred at birth and during hospitalization , growth restriction at discharge and type of feeding . In conclusion , our findings suggest that mother ’s human milk feeding during hospitalization can be encouraged because it may improve neurodevelopment at 24 months corrected age
It is likely that donor milk provides short-term cost savings by reducing the incidence of NEC .
BACKGROUND Necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) is a costly gastrointestinal disorder that mainly affects preterm and low-birth-weight infants and can lead to considerable morbidity and mortality .
Mother 's own milk is protective against NEC but is not always available .
In such cases , donor human milk has also been shown to be protective ( although to a lesser extent ) compared with formula milk , but it is more expensive .
This systematic review aim ed at evaluating the cost of donor milk , the cost of treating NEC , and the cost-effectiveness of exclusive donor milk versus formula milk feeding to reduce the short-term health and treatment costs of NEC .