Correlation between Perfusion Index and CRIB Score in Sick Neonates Admitted to a Tertiary Center

The study was to determine the correlation of Perfusion Index (PI) and Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) score, in assessing the severity of illness in sick neonates.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). All eligible neonates, both term and preterm, admitted to the high-dependency unit of the NICU were included, after parental consent. Relevant details of history and examination were collected with a structured proforma. Severity of illness was assessed using CRIB score within 12 h of admission. PI was recorded within 24 h of admission, and babies were examined for the presence or absence of shock and their outcome was documented. The correlation coefficient between PI and CRIB score was derived.

A total of 200 eligible newborns were enrolled. The mean gestational age of the neonates was 34 weeks. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] CRIB score was 1.00 (0.00, 3.00), and PI was 1.400 (0.93, 2.30). The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between PI and CRIB score was -0.41 with p value <0.05. The median PI of neonates with CRIB score ≤5, 6-10 and >10 was 1.50, 0.74, 0.67, respectively (p value <0.0001). The median (IQR) PI of babies with shock and without shock was 0.63 (0.43, 0.84) and 1.58 (1.19, 2.41), respectively, with p value <0.001.

PI has a negative correlation with CRIB score and can be used to assess the severity of illness in sick neonates.