ELBW and ELGAN outcomes in developing nations-Systematic review and meta-analysis.

<h4>Context</h4>Morbidity and mortality amongst extremely low birth weight (ELBW) and extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs) in developing nations has not been well studied.<h4>Objectives</h4>Evaluate survival until discharge, short- and long-term morbidities of ELBW and ELGANs in LMICs.<h4>Data sources</h4>CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Web of Science.<h4>Study selection</h4>Prospective and retrospective observational studies were included.<h4>Data extraction and synthesis</h4>Four authors extracted data independently. Random-effects meta-analysis of proportions was used to synthesize data, modified QUIPS scale to evaluate quality of studies and GRADE approach to ascertain the certainty of evidence (CoE).<h4>Results</h4>192 studies enrolling 22,278 ELBW and 18,338 ELGANs were included. Survival was 34% (95% CI: 31% - 37%) (CoE-low) for ELBW and 39% (34% - 44%) (CoE-moderate) for ELGANs. For ELBW neonates, the survival for low-income (LI), lower middle-income (LMI) and upper middle income (UMI) countries was 18% (11% - 28%), 28% (21% - 35%) and 39% (36% - 42%), respectively. For ELGANs, it was 13% (8% - 20%) for LI, 28% (21% - 36%) for LMI and 48% (42% - 53%) for UMI countries. There was no difference in survival between two epochs: 2000-2009 and 2010-2020. Except for necrotising enterocolitis [ELBW and ELGANs-8% (7% - 10%)] and periventricular leukomalacia [ELBW-7% (4% - 11%); ELGANs-6% (5%-7%)], rates of all other morbidities were higher compared to developed nations. Rates of neurodevelopmental impairment was 17% (7% - 34%) in ELBW neonates and 29% (23% - 37%) in ELGANs.<h4>Limitations</h4>CoE was very low to low for all secondary outcomes.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Mortality and morbidity amongst ELBW and ELGANs is still a significant burden in LMICs. CoE was very low to low for all the secondary outcomes, emphasizing the need for high quality prospective cohort studies.<h4>Trial registration</h4>PROSPERO (CRD42020222873).

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