Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This report examines trends in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission in the United States overall and by maternal age, race and Hispanic origin, gestational age and birthweight of the newborn, and state of residence of the mother from 2016 to 2023. METHODS: Data are from the National Vital Statistics System birth files. The percentage of total NICU admissions in the United States from 2016 to 2023 are presented. Also presented are percentages of NICU admissions by maternal age, race and Hispanic origin, gestational age and birthweight of the newborn, and state of residence of the mother from 2016 to 2023. KEY FINDINGS: The percentage of infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the United States rose 13% from 2016 to 2023, from 8.7% to 9.8%. Increases from 2016 to 2023 were seen for all maternal age, race and Hispanic origin groups, gestational age and birthweight categories and in 40 states.