Abstract
Objective To develop a simplified Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (sFNAS) that will highly correlate with scores ≥ 8 and ≥12 in infants being assessed with the FNAS.
Design, setting and participants This is a retrospective analysis involving 367 patients admitted to two level IV neonatal intensive care units with a total of 40 294 observations. Inclusion criteria included neonates with gestational age ≥ 37 0/7 weeks, who are being assessed for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) using the FNAS. Infants with a gestational age < 37 weeks were excluded.
Methods A linear regression model based on the original FNAS data from one institution was developed to determine optimal values for each item in the sFNAS. A backward elimination approach was used, removing the items that contributed least to the Pearson’s correlation. The sFNAS was then cross-validated with data from a second institution.
Results Pearson’s correlation between the proposed sFNAS and the FNAS was 0.914. The optimal treatment cut-off values for the sFNAS were 6 and 10 to predict FNAS scores ≥ 8 and ≥ 12, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of these cut-off values to detect FNAS scores ≥ 8 and ≥ 12 were 0.888 and 0.883 for a cut-off of 6, and 0.637 and 0.992 for a cut-off of 10, respectively. The sFNAS cross-validation resulted in a Pearson’s correlation of 0.908, sensitivity and specificity of 0.860 and 0.873 for a cut-off of 6, and 0.525 and 0.986 for a cut-off of 10, respectively.
Conclusion The sFNAS has a high statistical correlation with the FNAS, and it is cross-validated for the assessment of infants with NAS. It has excellent specificity and negative predictive value for identifying infants with FNAS scores ≥ 8 and ≥ 12.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-27-2017
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016176
Related Content
All available data were used in the development of this study and can be obtained by contacting the corresponding author.
Repository Citation
Gomez Pomar, Enrique; Finnegan, Loretta P.; Delvin, Lori; Bada, Henrietta S.; Concina, Vanessa A.; Ibonia, Katrina T.; and Westgate, Philip M., "Simplification of the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System: Retrospective Study of Two Institutions in the USA" (2017). Pediatrics Faculty Publications. 251.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/pediatrics_facpub/251
Notes/Citation Information
Published in BMJ Open, v. 7, issue 9, e016176, p. 1-7.
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