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Updated: Jul 10, 2025
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
Early-Term Neonates Demonstrate a Higher Likelihood of Requiring Phototherapy Compared to Those Born Full-Term
Teck-Jin Tan1,2, Wan-Ju Chen2,3, Wan-Chun Lin4
1Department of Pediatrics, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan.
Insights
Early-term neonates require phototherapy more often than full-term infants. Monitoring bilirubin levels 24-48 hours postpartum aids in early detection and treatment of jaundice.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Perinatology
Background:
- Early-term neonates (37-38 weeks gestation) experience higher morbidity than full-term infants.
- Hyperbilirubinemia and the need for phototherapy are significant concerns in newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if early-term neonates have a higher incidence of hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy compared to full-term neonates.
- To identify risk factors associated with phototherapy need in these groups.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 356 neonates born between January 2021 and June 2022.
- Analysis of gestational age, birth weight, bilirubin levels, G6PD deficiency, feeding type, and phototherapy administration.
- Statistical analysis including logistic regression to determine risk factors.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher proportion of early-term neonates required phototherapy (p < 0.05).
- Early-term infants were more likely to need phototherapy (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.21-3.80) after adjusting for risk factors.
- An optimal transcutaneous bilirubin cutoff of 9.85 mg/dl at 24-48 hours postpartum predicted phototherapy need.
Conclusions:
- Early-term neonates are at increased risk for jaundice requiring phototherapy.
- Timely bilirubin monitoring 24-48 hours postpartum is crucial for early prediction and intervention.
Abstract:
Early-term neonates (with a gestational age (GA) of 37 and 0/7 weeks to 38 and 6/7 weeks) face higher morbidities, including respiratory and neurodevelopmental issues, than full-term (39 and 0/7 weeks to 40 and 6/7 weeks) infants. This study explores whether hyperbilirubinemia necessitating phototherapy also differs between these groups. A retrospective study was conducted on neonates born from January 2021-June 2022, excluding those with specific conditions. Evaluated factors included GA, birth weight, bilirubin levels, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, and feeding type, with phototherapy given as per AAP guidelines. Of 1085 neonates, 356 met the criteria. When stratifying the neonates based on the need for phototherapy, a higher proportion of early-term neonates required phototherapy compared to full-term (p < 0.05). After factoring in various risks (GA; birth weight; gender; feeding type; G6PD deficiency; transcutaneous bilirubin levels at 24 h and 24-48 h postpartum; maternal diabetes; and the presence of caput succedaneum or cephalohematoma), early-term neonates were more likely to need phototherapy than full-term babies (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.21 to 3.80). The optimal cut-off for transcutaneous bilirubin levels 24-48 h postpartum that were used to predict phototherapy need was 9.85 mg/dl. In conclusion, early-term neonates are at a greater risk for developing jaundice and requiring phototherapy than full-term neonates. Monitoring bilirubin 24-48 h postpartum enhances early prediction and intervention.
