Enteral Feeding and Necrotizing Enterocolitis: Does Time of First Feeds and Rate of Advancement Matter?

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine if time to initial enteral feeding (EF) and rate of advancement are associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or death.

Methods: Secondary analysis of prospectively collected data of very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWI: 400--1500 g) born in 26 NEOCOSUR centers between 2000 and 2014.

Results: Among 12,387 VLBWI, 83.7% survived without NEC, 6.6% developed NEC and survived, and 9.6% had NEC and died or died without NEC (NEC/death). After risk adjustment, time to initial EF (median = 2 days) was not associated with NEC; however, delaying it was protective for NEC/death (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93--0.99). A slower feeding advancement rate (FAR) was protective for NEC (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.94-0.98) and for NEC/death (OR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.96-0.99).

Conclusions: In VLBWI, there was no association between an early initial EF and NEC, although delaying it was associated with less NEC/death. A slower FAR was associated with lower risk of both outcomes.