Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Early Infancy: A Nationwide Population‐Based Study of Prevalence and Care Utilization in Colombia
Andrea Parra Buitrago, Ranniery Acuña‐Cordero, Jefferson Antonio BuendíaABSTRACT
Background
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common chronic lung disease of prematurity; however, population‐based epidemiological data from low‐ and middle‐income countries remain scarce. Most available evidence is derived from neonatal intensive care unit cohorts, limiting generalizability and constraining health system planning. We aimed to estimate the crude and age‐standardized prevalence of BPD among infants younger than 1 year in Colombia between 2015 and 2024, and to characterize temporal trends, sex‐specific differences, health insurance–related disparities, and patterns of healthcare utilization.
Methods
We conducted a nationwide retrospective population‐based study using administrative healthcare data from the Colombian Registro Individual de Prestación de Servicios de Salud (RIPS), linked to population projections from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). BPD cases were identified using the ICD‐10 code P27.1. Prevalence rates per 100,000 infants were calculated with exact 95% confidence intervals and age‐standardized using the World Health Organization standard population. Temporal trends were assessed using LOESS smoothing and segmented regression. Adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regression models with population offsets.
Results
Between 2015 and 2024, the crude prevalence of BPD was 149.0 per 100,000 infants (95% CI: 146.1–152.0), with similar age‐standardized estimates. Prevalence was consistently higher in males and among infants affiliated with the contributive insurance regime. Temporal trends exhibited a non‐linear pattern, with a peak around 2019–2020. Pediatric pulmonology follow‐up visits increased substantially over time, whereas the use of advanced diagnostic testing remained limited.
Conclusions
BPD represents a substantial and evolving population‐level burden in Colombia. Routinely collected administrative healthcare data offer a scalable and pragmatic approach for disease surveillance and health system planning in settings lacking national neonatal registries.