Association of the Respiratory Severity Score with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension in Infants Born Extremely Preterm

Abstract Objective: To test the hypothesis that elevations in the respiratory severity score (RSS) are associated with increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension (BPD-PH). Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of infants born extremely preterm admitted to a BPD center between 2010-2018. Echocardiograms obtained ≥36 weeks’ post-menstrual age (PMA) were independently adjudicated by two blinded cardiologists to determine the presence/absence of BPD-PH. Multivariable logistic regression estimated the association between RSS with BPD-PH. Result: BPD-PH was observed in 68/223 (36%) of subjects. The median RSS at time of echocardiography was 3.04 (Range 0-18.3). A one-point increase in RSS was associated with BPD-PH, aOR 1.3 (95% CI 1.2-1.4), after adjustment for gestational age and PMA at time of echocardiography. Conclusion: Elevations in the RSS were associated with a greater risk of BPD-PH. Prospective studies are needed to determine the validity and performance of RSS as a clinical susceptibility/risk biomarker for BPD-PH.