Dopamine vs. Norepinephrine for Hypotension in Very Preterm Infants With Late-onset Sepsis

In this study, we will use real world data (RWD; defined as data generated during routine clinical practice) collected by our national Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN), which will be further expanded for this project. The CNN is a well-established patient registry that includes members from 31 hospitals and 17 universities across Canada. The Network maintains a standardized NICU database and provides a unique opportunity for researchers to participate in collaborative projects. We will use the framework of Hypotheses Evaluating Treatment Effectiveness (HETE) research a form of comparative effectiveness research (CER). Patient registries are emerging as a new method for assessment of treatments under the framework of CER. We will evaluate treatment effectiveness of two routinely used primary therapies for hypotension management in very preterm neonates with suspected LOS after standardizing treatment strategies and with a priori hypothesis.