Hypoglycemia incidence and risk factors assessment in hospitalized neonates

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypoglycemia is a major metabolic problem among neonates. Neonates are usually asymptomatic and hypoglycaemia can cause brain damage if not detected and treated early. This study was conducted to identify incidence as well as risk factors of hypoglycemia in neonates admitted to the NICU.Methods: Blood sample for glucose testing was collected in neonates who were less than 72 hours old, at the time of admission to our NICU (Kempegowda institute of medical sciences, Bangalore, India).Results: Total 250 neonates were admitted to the NICU for various reasons and all were screened for hypoglycaemia. Of the 250 babies 112 were hypoglycemic. 147 babies were males and 103 babies were females. 178 of the 250 babies enrolled were preterm and 72 babies were term. 44% babies were detected to have sepsis and 17.6% were detected to have respiratory distress syndrome. Only 7% (8 no. of) babies displayed symptoms like hypoglycemic convulsions, jitteriness.Conclusions: Neonates with premature birth, low birth weight and perinatal asphyxia were susceptible to hypoglycemia. Active and continuous monitoring of blood glucose level should be performed in the early newborns, especially in high-risk children, and attention should be paid to timely feeding for the early diagnosis and treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia to reduce its impact on the newborns.