[Premature birth and perinatal mortality 1982-1988. I].

The Authors analyzed the premature deliveries performed between 1982 and 1988 at the IV Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica of the University of Milan at the S. Gerardo Hospital, Monza, 1267 newborns out of 12507 were preterm. The rate was between 8.7 and 11.0% (average 9.8%). The early neonatal mortality is 10.6% (excluding malformed newborns, 8.3%), the late neonatal mortality is 12.7% (excluding malformed newborns, 9.8%). The early mortality is significantly lower starting from the 32nd week of pregnancy (35.4% vs 3.2%) and with a newborn's weight greater than 1500 grams (36.9 vs 3.2%). The early mortality is lower for females (8.4%) than for males (11.1%). In spite of other Authors, the early mortality is significantly higher than for AGA newborns (19.4 vs 7.9%). The causes of the early mortality are analyzed in detail.