Early neonatal outcome in late preterms

To study the maternal risk factors, morbidity, mortality of late preterm in comparison to term neonates.

This Cohort study involved two hundred fifty consecutively born late preterm and equal number of term newborns delivered in a tertiary care hospital. They were followed till discharge for morbidities and mortality. Detailed maternal and neonatal factors were studied and compared between the two groups.

Late preterm babies constituted 55% of all live preterm births during the study period. The odds of babies developing major morbidity was significantly more in those whose mothers had hypertension and infections (OR 2.69 95% CI: 1.55, 4.68 and 2.08, 95% CI: 1.6, 2.71 respectively). In the study group, 42.4% and 20.8% babies suffered major and minor morbidity compared to 8.4% and 6.8% of term controls respectively. Late preterm neonates had significantly higher odds of developing morbidity like respiratory distress (12.4% vs. 5.6%, OR 2.21, 95%CI 1.21,4.11), need for non invasive(17.3% vs. 5.7%, OR 3.05 95% CI 1.69, 5.47) and invasive ventilation (14.6% vs. 1.7%, OR 8.62, 95% CI 3.09, 24.04), sepsis (20.8% vs. 5.2%, OR 5.20, 95% CI 2.71, 9.99), seizures (22.8% vs. 4.8%, OR 4.75 95%CI 2.61, 8.63), shock (17.6% vs. 4.4%, OR 4.00 95% CI 2.12,7.56), and jaundice (26% vs. 6%, OR 4.33 95%CI 2.54, 7.39). By logistic regression, the odds of developing major morbidity decreased with increasing gestational age (aOR 0.28 95% CI 0.18, 0.45; p < 0.001) and increased with hypertensive disease of pregnancy (aOR 2.16 95% CI 1.09, 4.260; p = 0.026).

Late preterm neonates have significantly more mortality and morbidity compared to term controls. Maternal hypertension and lower gestational age are the strongest predictors of morbidity.