Evaluating the Mortality Outcomes of Premature Infants in the Intensive Care Unit
Abstract
Currently, premature birth is the predominant and crucial factor contributing to birth complications, leading to both perinatal mortality and morbidity, with an impact on as many as five to twelve percent of all births. Our study conducted a statistical analysis to evaluate mortality outcomes for preterm infants in the intensive care unit.
Patients and methods: From 12th March 2022 to 8th April 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate preterm neonatal patients in the neonatal intensive care unit at different hospitals in Iraq. We enrolled 105 participants and included preoperative demographic data in our investigation. The data were obtained from patients with premature infants delivered between 20- and 36 weeks gestation and birth weight in term [1/2 - 1], [1 - 1 ½], [1 ½ - 2], and > 2. Demographic data on smoking, steroid use, gestational age, types of obstetric interventions, and age of pregnant women (under 30 years and over 30 years) were analysed in our investigation.
Results: The research found that 62.86% of the sample population comprised women over the age of 30, while women aged less than 30 accounted for 37.14%. Our study comprised women who attended an entire hospital where clinical data were collected, and 29.52% of deliveries were vaginal, while Caesarean section accounted for 70.48%. The study analysed women in gestational weeks ranging from 20 to 24, and the incidence was 14.29%. The study analysed the postoperative mortality of premature infants, with a rate of 53.33% for women in gestational weeks between 31 to 36. The duration of hospital stay was (37.22 ± 25.441) days, and the discharge weight was (2110 ± 780.4) grams. There were 15 cases of premature infant patients weighing over 2 grams.
Conclusion: Prematurity is one risk factor that increases the likelihood of a newborn dying from respiratory distress syndrome. Low birth weight is the other risk factor for respiratory distress syndrome-related death.
