Antenatal factors for neonatal seizures among late preterm births*

The objective of this study was to evaluate for antenatal risk factors for neonatal seizures among late preterm births.

This was a case control study which included late preterm births without anomaly from the United States Natality database. Cases were infants with neonatal seizures, while the controls consisted of infants without neonatal seizures. Maternal and pregnancy characteristics were compared. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to investigate risk factors for neonatal seizures.

Of the 943,580 late preterm births, 512 (0.05%) developed neonatal seizures. Significant risk factors associated with neonatal seizures among late preterm births included number of prenatal visits (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.94, 95% CI [0.92-0.96]), smoking history (aOR 1.78, 95% CI [1.41-2.25]), chorioamnionitis (aOR 4.37, 95% CI [2.65-7.21]), non-Hispanic White race (aOR 1.41, 95% CI [1.13-1.76]), and cesarean birth (aOR 2.31, 95% CI [1.91-2.80]).

Number of prenatal visits, history of smoking, chorioamnionitis, non-Hispanic white race, and cesarean birth are risk factors for neonatal seizures at late preterm gestation.