Multicenter Cross Validation Study of a Simplified Finnegan Scoring System

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is withdrawal in the neonate after in-utero exposure to drugs of abuse – specifically opiates. The incidence of NAS has grown to epic proportions in the United States. The number of affected infants is disproportionally high in the state of Kentucky and in the southeastern section of the nation. The incidence of NAS in KY has increased 23 fold between 2001 and 2014. Despite the marked increase in this disease the primary tool used across the United States to assess the severity of symptoms and the need for pharmacologic therapy, the Finnegan Scoring Tools, has not changed over the last 40 years. The Finnegan tool, although widely adopted, is a lengthy tool that requires extensive training and experience to ensure consistency in scoring. This tool is highly complex and can be subjective with significant variability. This variability can lead to over, and under, treatment of affected infants. Enrique Gomez M.D., Loretta Finnegan M.D., Lori Devlin D.O. MHA, and Philip Westgate PhD have developed a Simplified Finnegan Scoring Tool (sFNAS) that is highly correlated with the original Finnegan Scoring Tool. The sFNAS reduces subjectivity and variability of scoring. Dr. Philip Westgate, Ph.D will actively participate in conference calls and email communication as part of the study team.