U.S. preterm birth rate goes down but Kentucky's maternal smoking rate still second highest, putting preterm babies at risk

For the fifth year in a row, the preterm birth rate in the United States has dropped. Which is great news. But Kentucky again had a significantly high smoking rate for expectant mothers -- at 32.2 percent, putting us behind only West Virginia (at 36 percent) of pregnant women who gave birth preterm and smoked.

Being born before full term puts babies at undue risk. Still, nearly half a million babies in the United States are born prematurely, many unnecessarily, according to the March of Dimes' 2012 Premature Birth Report Card. Serena Gordon of HealthDay reports that "those risks include breathing difficulties, heart defects and bleeding in the brain. Some conditions are only temporary while others can persist." A premature birth is anything that occurs before 37 weeks gestation. Maternal smoking is a major factor respiratory difficulties for the child and in an inability for the mother to go full term.

It is also been found that women without health insurance also have a higher incidence of preterm birth. Texas had the worst rates of uninsured women with 34.2 percent without insurance. Florida and New Mexico had rates of uninsured women of about 30 percent. Kentucky had rates of uninsured women of 21.7 percent. (Read more)

To see the full report and to see how Kentucky fared compared to other states in a number of other categories, go here.

For the fifth year in a row, the preterm birth rate in the United States has dropped. Which is great news. But Kentucky again had a significantly high smoking rate for expectant mothers -- at 32.2 percent, putting us behind only West Virginia (at 36 percent) of pregnant women who gave birth preterm and smoked.

Being born before full term puts babies at undue risk. Still, nearly half a million babies in the United States are born prematurely, many unnecessarily, according to the March of Dimes' 2012 Premature Birth Report Card. Serena Gordon of HealthDay reports that "those risks include breathing difficulties, heart defects and bleeding in the brain. Some conditions are only temporary while others can persist." A premature birth is anything that occurs before 37 weeks gestation. Maternal smoking is a major factor respiratory difficulties for the child and in an inability for the mother to go full term.

It is also been found that women without health insurance also have a higher incidence of preterm birth. Texas had the worst rates of uninsured women with 34.2 percent without insurance. Florida and New Mexico had rates of uninsured women of about 30 percent. Kentucky had rates of uninsured women of 21.7 percent. (Read more)

To see the full report and to see how Kentucky fared compared to other states in a number of other categories, go here.

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UK medical center is fifth in the nation to be recognized for out-of-body respirator help for babies, children and adults

Because they use extracorporeal (out-of-body) membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, to support patients, the University of Kentucky's Albert B. Chandler Hospital and Kentucky Children's Hospital have been awarded a triple designation from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. UK is just the fifth medical center to receive the triple-designation honor, reports UK's Allison Perry. (UK photo)

ECMO uses an artificial lung device that gives "cardiac and respiratory support to patients whose heart and lungs are so severely damaged that they can no longer function," Perry reports. "It can also serve as a bridge to transplantation, allowing patients to not only survive, but to become stronger and healthy enough to undergo the transplant surgery." The technique is used on neonatal, pediatric and adult patients, hence the triple designation.

"This designation is another example of the expertise and advanced technology available for neonatal to adult patients who require complex care that can only be provided at top academic medical institutions," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK's vice president for health affairs. (Read more)

Because they use extracorporeal (out-of-body) membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, to support patients, the University of Kentucky's Albert B. Chandler Hospital and Kentucky Children's Hospital have been awarded a triple designation from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. UK is just the fifth medical center to receive the triple-designation honor, reports UK's Allison Perry. (UK photo)

ECMO uses an artificial lung device that gives "cardiac and respiratory support to patients whose heart and lungs are so severely damaged that they can no longer function," Perry reports. "It can also serve as a bridge to transplantation, allowing patients to not only survive, but to become stronger and healthy enough to undergo the transplant surgery." The technique is used on neonatal, pediatric and adult patients, hence the triple designation.

"This designation is another example of the expertise and advanced technology available for neonatal to adult patients who require complex care that can only be provided at top academic medical institutions," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK's vice president for health affairs. (Read more)

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Kentucky rated worst in country for power-plant pollution

Kentucky was ranked first in the country for the amount of pollution from power plants in 2009 and 2010, a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found.

The Paradise Fossil Plant in Muhlenberg County, left, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority, was ranked the nation's top power-plant polluter in 2010. American Electric Power's Big Sandy plant in Lawrence County was ranked fifth, and the Mill Creek station of Louisville Gas & Electric was seventh.

The NRDC's initial report showed a huge increase in Kentucky power-plant emissions from 2009 to 2010, but after The Courier-Journal raised questions about it, the report was corrected. The corrected figures showed that the state remained No. 1 in power-plant pollution. (Read more)

Kentucky was ranked first in the country for the amount of pollution from power plants in 2009 and 2010, a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found.

The Paradise Fossil Plant in Muhlenberg County, left, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority, was ranked the nation's top power-plant polluter in 2010. American Electric Power's Big Sandy plant in Lawrence County was ranked fifth, and the Mill Creek station of Louisville Gas & Electric was seventh.

The NRDC's initial report showed a huge increase in Kentucky power-plant emissions from 2009 to 2010, but after The Courier-Journal raised questions about it, the report was corrected. The corrected figures showed that the state remained No. 1 in power-plant pollution. (Read more)

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