Impact of race on heart rate characteristics monitoring in very low birth weight infants.

Predictive analytics, such as heart rate characteristics (HRC) monitoring for late-onset neonatal sepsis, should have equal impact among patients of different race. Infants with Black or White maternal race randomized to HRC display had similar outcomes, but randomization to the study arm increased a related clinical intervention, blood cultures, in White but not in Black infants. This study provides evidence of a differential effect of predictive models on clinical care by race. The work will promote consideration and analysis of equity in the implementation of predictive analytics.