Predictors of Mortality and Major Morbidities in Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonates.

Objectives: To determine predictors of mortality and morbidity in extremely low birth weight neonates (ELBW) from a developing country Study design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Level III neonatal unit in Northern India. Subjects: Neonates <1000g born and admitted to intensive care during study period were enrolled. They were analyzed based on survival and development of major morbidity. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine independent risk factors. Outcome: Mortality and major morbidity (one or more of the following: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) requiring laser, grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) stage III) during hospital stay. Results: Of 255 ELBW neonates born, 149 received optimal care, of which 78 (52%) survived and 57 (39%) developed morbidities. Mean birth weight and gestational age were 29.1±2.6 weeks and 843±108g. Major causes of mortality were sepsis (46%), birth asphyxia (20%) and pulmonary hemorrhage (19%). Birth weight ≤800g [OR (95% CI)-3.51 (1.39-8.89), P=0.008], mechanical ventilation [4.10 (1.64-10.28), P=0.003] and hypotensive shock [10.75 (4.00-28.89), P<0.001] predicted mortality while birth weight ≤800g [3.75 (1.47-9.50), P=0.006], lack of antenatal steroids [2.62 (1.00-6.69), P=0.048), asphyxia [4.11 (1.45-11.69), P=0.008], ventilation [4.38 (1.29-14.79), P=0.017] and duration of oxygen therapy [0.004 (1.001-1.006), P=0.002] were the predictors of major morbidities. Conclusions: Low birth weight, mechanical ventilation and hypotensive shock predicted mortality in ELBW neonates while low birth weight, lack of antenatal steroids, birth asphyxia, ventilation and duration of oxygen therapy were predictors for major morbidity.

Survival and Morbidity Among Two Cohorts of Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonates from a Tertiary Hospital in Northern India.

This study was conducted to compare the survival and morbidity of extremely low birth weight neonates born during two different time periods (2009-10 and 2001-02) at a Level III referral neonatal unit in Northern India. All consecutive intramural extremely low birth weight neonates (<1000g), irrespective of gestation, and admitted to Intensive Care were enrolled. 149 and 123 neonates were enrolled during 2009-10 and 2001-02, respectively. The baseline characteristics were comparable except for mean birth weight, which was lower during 2009-10 (843±108g vs 885±126g, P=0.003). Surfactant therapy (54% vs 18%, P<0.001), non-invasive ventilation (28% vs 6%, P<0.001), high frequency ventilation (24% vs 4%, P=0.001), IVH (52% vs 25%, P<0.001) and PDA (34% vs 18%, P=0.004) were significantly more during 2009-10. Culture positive sepsis (33% vs 51%, P=0.003) and ROP rates (7% vs 23%, P=0.042) were significantly higher during 2001-02. Overall survival was similar; however, neonates between 28-30 weeks gestation had better survival (63%) during 2009-10 compared to 2001-02 (38%), P=0.009. Survival in neonates 28-30 weeks improved during this period while overall survival remained the same.