Risk factors for neonatal admission from the beginning of pregnancy in Northeast Spain

Maternal health and gestational control are crucial to improving the newborn's prognosis. This study analyses demographic and obstetric factors at the beginning of pregnancy related to neonatal health, assessing their impact on the risk of hospital admission and prematurity.

Observational retrospective study conducted in Northeast Spain with data of 9560 newborns between February 2017 and February 2022. The following have been evaluated as risk factors for hospital admission: nulliparity, multiple gestation, fertilisation techniques, foreign maternal origin, maternal age, smoking and residential location, dividing the sample according to gestational age. Hypothesis testing and logistic regression were performed.

Nulliparity, fertilisation techniques and multiple gestation represent a risk factor for neonatal admission (OR 22.48, 4.04 and 3.34, respectively), especially in premature newborns <32 weeks of GA (OR: 30.71, 10.71 and 22.76, respectively). Foreign maternal origin also adds risk of admission, both in term newborns (OR 1.26; CI: 1.10-1.43) and in premature babies <32 weeks of GA (OR 1.61; CI: 1.09-2.38). Tobacco does not present a significant risk of neonatal admission. The multivariate analysis model confirms the influence of the following factors in all the studied groups: nulliparity, multiple gestation and foreign maternal origin.

Nulliparity and multiple pregnancies are both main risk factors for neonatal admission and premature delivery. The use of fertilisation techniques and the foreign origin of the mother significantly associate increased risk of admission and neonatal prematurity. These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to prenatal care to improve neonatal prognosis and promote long-term health in risk populations.