Morbidity and Mortality Profile of Late Preterm Neonates as Compared to Term Neonates from a Tertiary Care Centre in Silchar

Abstract

BACKGROUND Late preterm infants are less mature physiologically and have poor compensatory responses when compared to term infants. Recent studies have implied increased morbidities in late preterm infants and higher rate of hospital admission during neonatal period. Multiple maternal risk factors lead to the increasing incidence of late preterm births. We wanted to study the morbidity and mortality profile of late preterm infants compared to term infants. METHODS The study was conducted in the special newborn care unit (SCNU) of Silchar Medical College and Hospital. The study population comprised of 175 late preterm and 175 term babies admitted in SCNU. It was a cross sectional study. RESULTS In this study 175 late preterm neonates were compared with 175 term neonates. Late preterm babies were at increased risk of hypoglycemia (P value = 0.0130), neonatal jaundice (P = 0.021), culture positive sepsis (P = 0.001), respiratory distress (P = 0.000), hypocalcaemia (P = 0.030), difficulty in feeding (P = 0.000) and birth asphyxia (P = 0.013), longer hospital stay and mortality (P = 0.009) when compared to term babies. In babies of mothers with oligohydramnios and pregnancy induced hypertension, preterm babies had significant morbidity compared to term babies. CONCLUSIONS Late preterm babies have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality when compared to term neonates and need special care. Premature rupture of membranes, antepartum hemorrhage and pre-eclampsia are the main maternal complications leading to premature delivery of the baby. KEY WORDS Late Preterm, Preeclampsia, Oligohydramnios, Morbidity