Perinatal characteristics and outcome of VLBW infants at NICU of a developing country: An experience at eastern Nepal

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the perinatal chracteristics and mortality pattern as well as to correlate mortality with perinatal characteristics in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Methods. This was a retrospective study. Chi square tests, Fisher Exact tests, Log rank tests and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for analysis of different parameters using SPSS 10.0 statistical software.

Results. Among 125 VLBW infants, 76 survived. Survival improved with increasing birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA). Most deaths occurred within 5 days. Duration of hospital stay increased with decreasing BW among survivors. Perinatal risks of mortality included history of abortion, no use of antenatal steroid, GA <32 weeks and Apgar score ≤5 at 1 min. Maternal age ≤20 years, primigravida, twin pregnancy, hypertension, antepartum hemorrhage, prolonged leaking per vagina, chronic medical disease, home delivery, male baby, active resuscitation at birth, extremely low birth weight (ELBW), Apgar score ≤5 at 5 min, small for GA, cesarean delivery and breech presentation were not associated with mortality.

Conclusion. Survival improved with increasing BW and GA. The perinatal predictors of mortality were history of abortion, ELBW, no use of antenatal steroid, GA <32 weeks and low Apgar score at 1 min.

Keywords:

• Very low birth weight
• VLBW
• perinatal characteristics
• mortality

Acknowledgements

We thank medical record section and NICU staffs for providing valuable information and support. This work was done without any financial support.