Abu Dhabi, UAE – July 2026 – SEHA’s Corniche Hospital has announced the findings of a landmark neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) study aimed at advancing care for very preterm infants and addressing one of the most serious complications of prematurity—chronic lung disease (CLD), also known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
The study reflects the hospital’s broader commitment to Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Women’s Health, delivering integrated, evidence-based care that supports both mothers and newborns across the full continuum of care. It also reinforces SEHA’s vision of delivering advanced care at system scale, ensuring consistent, high-quality outcomes across every stage of life.
The retrospective study, conducted on 161 infants born before 32 weeks of gestation, provides critical insights into clinical outcomes, risk factors, and opportunities to further enhance neonatal care across the UAE and beyond.
With a mean birth weight of 885 ± 283 grams, the cohort represents a highly vulnerable patient population. The study demonstrated strong adherence to international best practices, with 95% of mothers receiving antenatal steroids and 84.5% of infants treated with surfactant therapy—both key interventions known to improve respiratory outcomes in premature infants.
Encouragingly, the overall mortality rate was 9.3%, comparing favorably with global benchmarks for similar high-risk groups. The study also highlighted the distribution of CLD severity, with 31.1% classified as mild, 27.3% moderate, and 11.2% severe cases.
Commenting on the study, Dr. Ihab Elkadry, Neonatologist at Corniche Hospital, said: “For every premature baby who takes their first breath, a new story of hope begins. Our goal is to protect the fragile lungs of these babies while supporting their growth and development. Watching a baby who once struggled for every breath leave the NICU breathing independently is one of the most rewarding moments for our entire team.”
Importantly, the findings reinforce that lower birth weight remains a significant predictor of disease severity. Infants with severe CLD required prolonged ventilation and oxygen therapy and were at increased risk of complications, including sepsis—underscoring the need for targeted prevention and early intervention strategies.
Chronic lung disease affects between 30% and 45% of extremely premature infants globally, making it a critical focus for advancing neonatal care. The SEHA Corniche Hospital study adds important local insight aligned with international trends, helping inform more targeted, evidence-based interventions. The findings are already supporting improvements across SEHA, including enhanced respiratory care, stronger infection prevention, and more coordinated multidisciplinary practices—reinforcing a system-wide approach to delivering better outcomes at scale.
This study reinforces SEHA Corniche Hospital’s leadership in maternal-fetal medicine and neonatal care, delivering advanced support from the earliest stages of life. As part of SEHA—the trusted backbone of the UAE’s healthcare system—it reflects a system-wide commitment to providing advanced care at scale and improving outcomes across communities.
About PureHealth:
PureHealth is the largest healthcare group in the Middle East with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans. With 110+ hospitals, 316+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centres, health insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments, and more, its groundbreaking innovations are at the forefront of healthcare. The company is on a mission to unlock time for humankind. By advancing the science of longevity, PureHealth is introducing the healthcare of the future from the United Arab Emirates to the rest of the world.
PureHealth’s network comprises:
- SEHA – One of the largest healthcare networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE
- SEHA CLINICS – Delivering comprehensive community-based healthcare services
- Daman (The National Insurance Company) – The UAE’s leading health insurer
- The Medical Office – Overseeing Sheikh Khalifa Hospitals and healthcare facilities established under the initiatives of H.H. The President of the UAE
- Rafed – The UAE’s largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organisation
- PureLab – Managing and operating the largest network of laboratories in the region
- One Health – A network that provides end-to-end medical solutions to a base of over 300 healthcare service providers
- The Life Corner – Abu Dhabi’s first holistic pharmacy, serving the health and wellness establishment
- Ardent Health Services – The fourth largest privately held acute care hospital operator in the US
- Circle Health Group – The largest independent operators of hospitals in the UK
- Hellenic Healthcare Group (HHG) – the largest private healthcare provider in Greece and Cyprus
- PureCS – A leading cloud and technology services provider, specialising in IT management and consulting solutions, cybersecurity, cloud services and AI information systems
- Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) – The UAE’s largest healthcare complex, delivering integrated complex care
About SEHA:
SEHA is an independent, public joint stock company created to develop the curative activities of the public healthcare system in Abu Dhabi. The company operates a big number of the public hospitals and clinics of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. SEHA is a PureHealth asset, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East.
SEHA is committed to continuously improving of customer care to recognised international standards and providing the community with world-class healthcare. SEHA operates 14 hospitals with over 2600 beds, 70 ambulatory care, family care, urgent care centres, 6 dialysis centres, and 4 blood banks. Its facilities accommodate 132,000 inpatients annually, conduct 52,000 surgeries, and treat more than 6.7 million outpatients.
SEHA is one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East, with more than 20,000 doctors, nurses, ancillary care, and administrative personnel.
To find out more about SEHA’s specialised clinic or book an appointment, call 80050 or visit SEHA.ae. You can also book an appointment through the SEHA mobile app or WhatsApp 02 410 2200.
