Trends in Gabapentin Use in Neonatal Intensive Care Units from 2005 to 2020

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to analyze trends in gabapentin use in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and examine demographic characteristics, diagnoses, and concomitant medications associated with its use.

Study Design

Cohort study of 987,181 infants hospitalized in the NICU from 2005 to 2020.

Results

Eighty-five infants (<0.01%) received gabapentin. From 2009 to 2020, there was a 1,055% relative increase in gabapentin use (p < 0.01). The median birth weight was 2,160 g (25th, 75th percentiles: 875, 3,080 g) in gabapentin-exposed infants compared with 2,498 g (1,890, 3,210 g) in unexposed infants (p < 0.001). Over half (55%) of infants receiving gabapentin were born prematurely, 54% (n = 45) had chronic lung disease, 46% (n = 39) had gastrostomy tubes, and 34% (n = 29) had drug withdrawal syndrome; 49% (n = 42) and 27% (n = 23) received opioids and benzodiazepines, respectively.

Conclusion

Use of gabapentin was rare but increased over time despite limited research on its safety and efficacy in infants, illuminating the need for further studies.

Key Points

• Gabapentin safety in infants is not well understood.

• Gabapentin use increased despite limited safety research.

• Further studies on gabapentin use in infants are needed.

Keywords

cohort study - retrospective study - gabapentin - neonatal intensive care units - premature infants - gabapentin trends

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This study was approved by the Duke University Institutional Review Board.

Authors' Contributions

A.G.R. contributed to the conception and design of the study, data analysis and data interpretation, manuscript drafting, and critical revision of the manuscript.

R.K. had full access to all of the data in the study and agreed to take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. The author contributed to data analysis and interpretation, manuscript drafting, and critical revision of the manuscript.

L.D.D., S.B., A.J.E.S., B.J., M.F.M., S.R., R.H.C., K.Z., and D.K.B., Jr., contributed to data analysis and interpretation, manuscript drafting, and critical revision of the manuscript.

R.G.G. contributed to the conception and design of the study, supervision, data interpretation, and critical revision of the manuscript.

^* High school student, college student, or school teacher affiliated with the Duke Clinical Research Institute's R25 Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) Program.

Publication History

Received: 08 August 2024

Accepted: 25 October 2024

Article published online:
25 November 2024

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