Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39433962›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2025

A validated NICU database: recounting 50 years of clinical growth, quality improvement and research.

Kikelomo Babata, Charles R Rosenfeld, Mambarambath Jaleel, Patti J Burchfield, Marina Santos Oren, Riya Albert, L Steven Brown, Lina Chalak, Luc P Brion

Abstract readHistorical Article
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Long-term outcomes in adults born preterm with symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2026
    Article
  3. Effects of a respiratory care protocol incorporating less invasive surfactant administration in infants born at 30-34 weeks' gestation.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kikelomo BabataDivision of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA. Kikelomo.Babata@utsouthwestern.edu.
Charles R RosenfeldDivision of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Mambarambath JaleelDivision of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Patti J BurchfieldDivision of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Marina Santos OrenDivision of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Riya AlbertUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, USA.
L Steven BrownParkland Health and Hospital System, Dallas, TX, USA.
Lina ChalakDivision of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Luc P BrionDivision of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The importance of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) database lies in its critical role in improving the quality of care for very preterm neonates and other high-risk newborns. These databases contain extensive information regarding maternal exposures, pregnancy complications, and neonatal care. They support quality improvement (QI) initiatives, facilitate clinical research, and track health outcomes in order to identify best practices and improve clinical guidelines. The Parkland Memorial Hospital NICU database was originally part of the Maternal and Neonatal Data Acquisition, Transmission and Evaluation project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to assess perinatal-neonatal care in Dallas County Texas, 1977-1982. Clinical data points were defined, transcribed and validated in 1977; revalidation has occurred multiple times. Data are prospectively extracted from health records of high-risk neonates among >11,000 births annually. The database contains clinical information on >50,000 neonates, including all initially admitted to the NICU regardless of gestational age or birthweight and since 10/03/2011, all neonates admitted for observation and transferred to the term newborn nursery. The database has provided the basis for QI studies and research designed to assess and improve neonatal care. We discuss the history, evolution, administration, impact on neonatal outcomes, and future directions of our database. IMPACT: A single neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) database was designed for prospective data collection, validated and maintained for 46yrs. This database has supported quality improvement assessment, original clinical research, education and administrative requirements and impacted clinical neonatal care.

Indexed as

Biomedical ResearchDatabases, FactualIntensive Care Units, NeonatalQuality ImprovementFemaleHistory, 20th CenturyHistory, 21st CenturyHumansInfant, NewbornInfant, PrematurePregnancyTexas

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.