[Predictive factors of mortality in extremely preterm infants]

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Pediatric Critical Care
• Perinatology

Background:

• Extremely preterm infants (born <29 weeks gestational age) have high mortality rates.
• Identifying predictive factors for mortality is crucial for improving outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors predicting mortality in extremely preterm infants.
• To compare mortality trends and predictive factors between two distinct time periods.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case-control study of 268 extremely preterm infants.
• Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictive factors.
• Comparison of mortality between 1999-2007 and 2008-2015.

Main Results:

• Mortality was significantly higher in infants with gestational age (GA) <25 weeks.
• From 2008-2015, infant numbers increased, but mortality significantly decreased compared to 1999-2007.
• Predictive factors for mortality included GA <25 weeks, lower birth weight, stage III necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and invasive mechanical ventilation dependence.
• Grade I and II intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) was found to be a protective factor.

Conclusions:

• Gestational age below 25 weeks, low birth weight, stage III NEC, and reliance on invasive mechanical ventilation are significant risk factors for mortality in extremely preterm infants.
• Grade I and II intraventricular hemorrhage appears to have a protective effect on mortality in this population.