Early blood glucose screening in asymptomatic high-risk neonates

Detecting and treating severe hypoglycemia promptly after birth is crucial due to its association with adverse long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, limited data are available on the optimal timing of glucose screening in asymptomatic high-risk neonates prone to hypoglycemia. Risk factors associated with asymptomatic high-risk neonates include late prematurity ≥35 and <37 weeks gestation (LPT), small-for-gestational-age (SGA), large-for-gestational-age (LGA), and infant-of-a-diabetic mother (IDM). This study aims to determine the incidence and the impact of individual risk factors on early hypoglycemia (defined as blood glucose ≤25 mg/dL in the initial hour after birth) in asymptomatic high-risk neonates.

All asymptomatic high-risk neonates ≥35 weeks gestation underwent early blood glucose screening within the first hour after birth (n=1,690). A 2-year retrospective analysis was conducted to assess the incidence of early neonatal hypoglycemia in this cohort and its association with hypoglycemia risk factors.

Out of the 9,919 births, 1,690 neonates (17 %) had risk factors for neonatal hypoglycemia, prompting screening within the first hour after birth. Incidence rates for blood glucose ≤25 mg/dL and ≤15 mg/dL were 3.1 and 0.89 %, respectively. Of concern, approximately 0.5 % of all asymptomatic at-risk neonates had a blood glucose value of ≤10 mg/dL. LPT and LGA were the risk factors significantly associated with early neonatal hypoglycemia.

Asymptomatic high-risk neonates, particularly LPT and LGA neonates, may develop early severe neonatal hypoglycemia identified by blood glucose screening in the first hour of life. Additional investigation is necessary to establish protocols for screening and managing asymptomatic high-risk neonates.