A Retrospective Study of Predictors of Mortality in Low Birth Weight Neonates in a District Hospital of Lucknow, India
Introduction: Low birth babies account for 10% of neonatal mortality. Survival of these babies depends on gestation, birth weight, presence of associated co-morbidities and quality of neonatal care. Aim: To evaluate predictors of mortality of low birth weight neonates admitted in Special Newbor...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd.
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Neonatal Medicine and Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ijnmr.net/articles/PDF/2325/52407_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_PF1(AKA_SHU)redo_PFA(SHU)_PB(AKA_SHU)_PN(SHU).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Low birth babies account for 10% of neonatal
mortality. Survival of these babies depends on gestation, birth
weight, presence of associated co-morbidities and quality of
neonatal care.
Aim: To evaluate predictors of mortality of low birth weight
neonates admitted in Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of a
district hospital in Lucknow.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of case records
were done to assess predictors of mortality of low birth weight
babies admitted in SNCU of a district hospital in Lucknow from
January 2017 to January 2020 was done. Neonatal variables in the
form of gender, place of delivery, birth weight, gestation, mode of
delivery, need for resuscitation at birth, respiratory distress, need
for oxygen, duration of stay in hospital, neonatal outcome in the
form of death, discharge, referral or leave against medical advice
was assessed. The association between qualitative variables was
assessed using Fisher’s-exact test. Quantitative variables were
analysed using unpaired t-test.
Results: Out of 2227 babies admitted in SNCU of a district
hospital, 47.4% (n=1056) babies were low birth weight. Mean
age of admission was 3.32±6.35 hours and mean weight on
admission was 1.8±0.46 kg. A 53.41% (n=564) were preterm,
46.31% (n=489) were term and only 3 babies (n=0.28%) were
post-term babies. A total of 655 (62%) babies were discharged,
85 (8%) referred and 316 (29%) died. Using univariate Odds
Ratio (OR) to calculate the risk for mortality and taking p-value
<0.05 statistically significant predictors of mortality were
prematurity (p-value=0.001, OR 2.223), extremely low birth
weight (<0.001), birth asphyxia (p-value=0.024, OR=1.399),
place of delivery p-value=0.036, OR=1.290) and duration of
stay in the hospital (p-value <0.001).
Conclusion: In the present study, it was seen that gestation less
than 28 weeks extremely low birth weight perinatal asphyxia and
duration of stay in hospital were the most important predictors
of mortality. Timely referral could have saved these babies.
Consolidation of the existing infrastructure with better networking
among the district and tertiary hospitals is required. |
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| ISSN: | 2277-8527 2455-6890 |