Quality of Life of Parents of Very Low Birth Weight Babies Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

This prospective cohort study was conducted at our tertiary care center from October, 2021 to April, 2022 to compare the parents' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay and at 3 months follow-up. Pediatric quality of life inventory (PedsQL) family impact module questionnaires were used in 46 mothers and 39 fathers during NICU stay, and 42 mothers and 38 fathers at 3-month follow-up. Greater proportions of mothers were severely affected and had higher stress levels as compared to fathers both during NICU stay (67.3% vs 48.7%) and at 3 months follow-up (62.7% vs 52.6%). Among the mothers, there was a significant improvement in individual and family functioning median (IQR) HRQL scores at 3-month follow-up [62 (48-83) vs 71(63-79)]. However, the pro-portion of mothers severely affected remained the same at NICU stay and 3-month follow-up (67.3% vs 62.7%).

Urinary Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein for Diagnosis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to compare the urinary levels of intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) and I-FABP: Cr (creatinine) between neonates with necrotising enterocolitis and gestation matched healthy controls. METHODS: 24 neonates with stage 1, 25 with stage 2 and 3 necrotizing enterocolitis, and 25 gestation matched (32.9 wk) controls were compared. Single spot urine sample was collected for estimating the IFABP and creatinine levels. RESULTS: Median (IQR) value of urinary I-FABP were higher in those with stage 2, 3 NEC [2773 (2417.7- 2820)] than stage 1 NEC [1164 pg/mL (1341.5 - 2213.4)] and controls [413 (113 - 729.7); pg/mL] (P<0.001). Urinary I-FABP: Cr levels of 3.6 pg/mmoL had a sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 99.5%, respectively in diagnosing stage 2/3 NEC. CONCLUSION: Urinary IFABP: Creatine ratio of 3.6 pg/mmoL is highly specific for stage 2 and 3 NEC.