The annual rate of NAS increased nearly threefold between 2000 and 2009, and our prescribing practices might be contributing to this trend.
Increasing use of opiate drugs among pregnant women has led to an increase in neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), associated maternal and infant morbidity, and healthcare costs. Investigators examined national databases between 2000 and 2009 to determine the incidence of NAS, the frequency of associated symptoms, and the financial burden associated with treatment.
Between 2000 and 2009, the annual incidence of antepartum maternal opiate use increased significantly from 1.19 to 5.63 per 1000 hospital births, and the incidence of NAS increased significantly from 1.20 to 3.39 per 1000 hospital births. Clinical conditions in infants diagnosed with NAS in 2009 included respiratory complications (31%), low birth weight (19%), feeding difficulties …