The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the characteristics of the very, very low birth weight (VVLBW) infant and to determine the effect certain variables (infant characteristics, maternal and family characteristics, medical conditions and treatment methods) may have on the risk status of the infant at discharge from the hospital. Data were collected from the medical records of 53 infants weighing 1,000 grams or less who were born at Fairfax Hospital in Virginia between 1981 and 1986. The characteristics of the infants were identified, the infants were classified into two risk groups (high and moderate) depending on their status at discharge, and the selected variables were compared between the two groups to identify significant differences. Finally, a discriminant analysis technique was used to determine the relationship between the selected variables and the infant's risk status at discharge.

It was found that the mean birth weight was 792.2 grams, the mean gestational age was 27.4 weeks, and the mean duration of hospital stay was 14 weeks. The majority of the infants had medical conditions such as apnea (100%), bradycardia (96.2%), and respiratory distress syndrome (96.2%). Because of the high incidence of respiratory-related complications, all of the infants received oxygen therapy and 92% required mechanical ventilation. Infants in the high-risk group were younger, remained in the hospital longer, had more severe medical conditions, and were treated with more invasive procedures than those in the moderate-risk group. Infants who weighed less than the mean 792.9 grams; whose mother's educational level was less than 13.8 years; who were diagnosed with neonatal events such as retinopathy of prematurity (stages III-IV), intraventricular hemorrhage (grades III or IV), hypovolemia, colestatic jaundice, periventricular leukomalcia, and oxygen in excess of 60%; and who were oxygen-dependent when discharged from the hospital were found to be at increased risk.