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Published on: June 11, 2020
Risk factors for neonatal seizures: A case-control study in the province of Parma, Italy
Francesco Pisani1, Carlotta Facini1, Elisa Bianchi2
1Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, Medicine & Surgery Department, University of Parma, Italy.
Insights
Neonatal seizures (NS) risk factors include pregnancy and birth complications. Neonates with complications like low Apgar scores or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy require close monitoring for electroencephalogram-confirmed seizures.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Clinical epidemiology
Background:
- Neonatal seizures (NS) are a critical concern in newborn care.
- Identifying risk factors aids in early detection and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate risk factors for electroencephalogram (EEG)-confirmed seizures in preterm and term neonates.
- To analyze associations between maternal/neonatal factors and NS.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study design including 22 infants with EEG-confirmed NS.
- Matched controls based on gestational age, sex, hospital, and birth period.
- Data extracted from delivery assistance databases, hospital charts, and ICD-9-CM codes.
Main Results:
- Significant associations found between NS and pregnancy/neonatal complications.
- Low Apgar scores, resuscitation needs, intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH) in preterm infants, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in term infants were key risk factors.
- 22 cases of NS were identified over a 6-year period.
Conclusions:
- Specific pregnancy and neonatal complications significantly increase the risk of NS.
- Neonates with identified risk factors warrant strict monitoring for potential seizures.
Purpose:
The present study evaluated the risk factors for electroencephalographic (EEG)-confirmed seizures during the whole neonatal period in preterm and term neonates born in the province of Parma between January 2009 and December 2014.
Methods:
We selected as cases the infants that presented EEG-confirmed neonatal seizures (NS). Two population controls for each case were matched by gestational age (GA), sex, hospital, and period of birth. Information on the mother, the pregnancy, the labor and delivery, and the neonates were taken from the Emilia-Romagna Certificate of Delivery Assistance database and from hospital charts and ICD-9-CM codes.
Results And Interpretation:
In the 6-year period of this study, 22 patients were recorded with NS. The association between at least one pregnancy complication and at least one neonatal complication, a low Apgar score, the need for resuscitation at birth, intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH) grades II-IV for preterm, and acute perinatal asphyxia/hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) for term infants were all statistically significant among cases. Neonates presenting these risk factors are more prone to develop NS and have to be strictly monitored.
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