Early neonatal morbidities and associated modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors in a cohort of infants born at 34-35 weeks of gestation

Iris Morag, Avital L. Okrent, Tzipora Strauss, Orna Staretz-Chacham, Jacob Kuint, Michal J. Simchen*, Amir Kugelman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the most common early morbidities in a cohort of infants born at 34-35 weeks gestation and to identify the risk factors associated with these morbidities. Methods: Retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively for all 235 infants born at 34-35 weeks of gestation during an eight-month period at a single tertiary medical center. Study group infants (SG) were compared with 470 term infants (TI), matched both for gender and for mode of delivery. Results: Jaundice requiring phototherapy (32%), respiratory disease (19.1%) and cyanotic episodes (15.7%) were the most frequent early morbidities, followed by hypoglycemia, temperature instability and feeding intolerance. The risk of having a complication was 13.3-times higher in the SG compared with the TI group (95% CI 8.9-19.6, p < 0.001). Modifiable interventions associated with these morbidities were antenatal steroids, MgSO4 and mode of delivery. Non-modifiable factors were maternal age, parity, twins and gender. Conclusions: Jaundice requiring phototherapy, respiratory disease and cyanotic episodes are the most frequent early morbidities among infants born at 34-35 weeks. Medically modifiable factors were found to be associated with the above morbidities. Whether specific recommendations for the care of these infants will affect early morbidities needs to be studied in controlled prospective studies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)876-882
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine
Volume28
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2015

Funding

FundersFunder number
Israeli Association of Clinical
Sheba Medical Center Institutional Review Board
Institut Ruđer Bošković

    Keywords

    • Antenatal steroids
    • Magnesium sulfate
    • Morbidities
    • Neonatal jaundice
    • Preterm infant
    • Respiratory distress

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Early neonatal morbidities and associated modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors in a cohort of infants born at 34-35 weeks of gestation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this