Quality improvement bundles to decrease hypothermia in very low/extremely low birth weight infants at birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated that hypothermia in preterm infants correlates with increased morbidity and mortality, especially among those with very low or extremely low birth weights (VLBW/ELBW). An increasing number of healthcare facilities are implementing quality improvement (QI) bundles to lower the incidence of hypothermia at birth in this vulnerable population. However, the effectiveness and safety of these interventions have yet to be fully assessed. A meta-analysis is necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of QI bundles in reducing hypothermia at birth among VLBW/ELBW infants.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science through April 22nd, 2024. Study selection, data extraction, quality evaluation and risk bias assessment were performed independently by two investigators. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4.1.

Results: A total of 18 studies were included for qualitative analysis and 12 for meta-analysis. For VLBW infants, meta-analysis revealed a reduction in hypothermia and an increase in hyperthermia following the introduction of QI bundles (mild hypothermia, OR 0.22, 95% CI [0.13-0.37]; moderate hypothermia, OR 0.18, 95% CI [0.15-0.22]; hyperthermia, OR 2.79, 95% CI [1.53-5.09]). For ELBW infants, meta-analysis showed a decrease in hypothermia but no increase in hyperthermia after implementing QI bundles (mild hypothermia, OR 0.46, 95% CI [0.26-0.81]; moderate hypothermia, OR 0.21, 95% CI [0.08-0.58]; hyperthermia, OR 1.10, 95% CI [0.22-5.43]).

Conclusion: QI bundles effectively reduce hypothermia in VLBW/ELBW infants, but they may also increase hyperthermia, especially in VLBW infants.