Pattern and Neonatal Outcome of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Qassim, Saudi Arabia

Neonatal mortality is one of the main public health problems, especially in developing countries. Limited studies on neonatal mortality exist in Saudi Arabia, particularly in central Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the incidence, causes, and associated factors for mortality among neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a single center in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

This retrospective study included 988 neonates admitted to the NICU in Saudi Arabia, between January and December 2023. Data were obtained from the hospital records using a questionnaire composed of sociodemographic data, neonatal and maternal information, and neonatal outcomes. Logistic regression analyses were performed, and the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

Data from 970 neonates (46.6% female) were collected and included in the analysis. Of the 970 neonates, 291 (30.0%) were preterm births, and 317 (32.7%) were low-birth-weight (LBW) babies. Overall, 417 (43.0%) neonates were delivered via cesarean section. Prematurity (51.7%), hypothermia/hypoglycemia (17.6%), neonatal jaundice (11.4%), congenital malformations (5.4%), respiratory distress syndrome (3.9%) and neonatal sepsis/infection (3.1%) were the main diagnoses at admission. Nineteen (2.0%) neonates died during the time of admission to discharge in the NICU. Univariate analysis showed that preterm birth (OR = 4.12, 95% CI = 1.60‒10.5) and LBW (OR = 5.9, 95% CI = 2.13‒16.77) were associated with increased odds of neonatal mortality. Maternal age, number of children, duration of admission, mode of delivery, and sex of the neonate were not associated with neonatal mortality. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, LBW (AOR 4.2, 95% CI = 1.24‒14.39) was associated with neonatal mortality.

The current study showed that prematurity, neonatal jaundice, and congenital malformations were the main causes of admission to the NICU. Neonatal mortality is lower than in other regions and is associated with LBW.