Effect of perinatal period and obstetric characteristics on neonatal mortality and morbidity in preterm SGA and AGA babies with a birth weight of 1000–2000 g

Abstract

Objective: Our study aimed to present obstetric follow-up data, neonatal mortality,\rshort-term neonatal morbidity, and 2-year infant neuromotor development follow-up\rdata in preterm, 1000–2000 g birth weight cases.\rMaterial and Methods: The study was carried out with 148 cases. Two groups were\rformed with fetal birth weights below the 5th percentile and in the 5th –95th percentile\rrange. Demographic and obstetric characteristics, fetal well-being tests, and ante-\rnatal and neonatal characteristics were evaluated. Neurological follow-up of babies\rcontinued at Metin Sabancı Spastic Children Foundation for 2 years.\rResults: The study groups consisted of 63 small for gestational age (SGA) and 85\rappropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Neuromotor development follow-up of\r75 living infants continued for 2 years. There was no statistically significant difference\rbetween the two groups for the nonstress test, umbilical arterial blood gas pH and\rbase deficit values, 1st and 5 th minute Apgar scores, infant general condition. The 1 st\rand 5th minute Apgar scores were statistically highly significant for deceased new-\rborns in both groups (p=0.020 and p=0.012, respectively). Early neonatal morbidity\rand mortality rates and neuromotor development problems at 6–12 months in SGA\rand AGA groups were similar. At the end of two years, no pathological diagnosis was\rreported for motor and reflex development in 75 cases.\rConclusion: The gestational week of the SGA group is significantly ahead at birth, but\rthe short- and long-term neonatal morbidities are similar for both groups. Our study\rreports the data of our clinic from 20 years ago. The infant mortality rate has shown a\rdeclining trend in recent years, but low birth weight infants are still at increased risk\rfor mortality. Reinterpretation of morbidity and mortality data of preterm infants will be\rbeneficial, together with innovations and improvements in neonatal care.