[Hyaline membrane disease: mortality and maternal and neonatal risk factors]

To identify maternal and neonatal risk factors associated with hyaline membrane disease and its mortality.

A case-control study with 41 newborns with hyaline membrane disease and 123 controls was made between September 2001 and February 2002 in the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr. Juan I. Menchaca. The diagnosis of hyaline membrane disease was done with clinical and radiographic data. Maternal risk factors were obtained by direct interview with the mother; the newborn data were obtained of the clinical files. The association was measured with the odds ratios (OR) and the confidence interval of 95%.

The frequency of hyaline membrane disease was of 6.8 per 1,000 live births. Mortality rate was of 2.8 per 1,000 live births. There were 17 deaths (41%). The risk factors associated with hyaline membrane were: illness during the first and second trimester of pregnancy, (OR: 3.28 [1.16-9.31]; OR: 8.88 [3.56-22.50], respectively), Apgar score lower than seven at the first minute (OR: 18.57 [4.50-88.67]), and masculine gender (OR: 2.58 [1.15-5.83]).

Frequency and mortality were similar to the reported by other studies made in population samples. The exposure to illnesses during pregnancy and the low Apgar score were associated with the increased frequency of hyaline membrane disease.