Factors associated with perinatal mortality in preterm infants in NICU Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad

Prematurity is the major cause of neonatal mortality, so this study aimed to determine the perinatal factors related to the premature infant’s mortality. Sample of records of this historical cohort study, was premature infants hospitalized in the Qhaem hospital intensive care unit, since 2007 to 2010. Two hundred cases were randomly selected. After the sample loss, 172 files precisely were studied from admission to discharge. Data were collected using a validated researcher made questionnaire, analyzed with SPSS19th, and presented with descriptive statistics, Fisher’s exact test, chi-square and T tests. From 172 neonates based on death or alive until 28th day after birth, 54 and 118 were included in the case and control groups, respectively. Birth weight and gestational age of the subjects, were 1549.54(±635.42) g and 31.46 (±3.35) weeks, respectively. Antenatal taking of nitroglycerin, magnesium sulfate, methyldopa, hydralazine and chronic use of insulin were not significantly deferent in the two groups (P>0.05), and had Odds ratio more than 1. Diabetes, preeclampsia, maternal Rh and blood group, were significantly deferent between the two groups (P<0.05). In the birth room crying, breathing, cyanosis, tonicity, cord status, and a history of neonatal resuscitation (p<0.001) and neonatal clinical findings at the NICU admission time including apnea, bradycardia, gasping, hydrops, ascites, and IUGR (p<0.005) were significantly deferent between the two groups. Some of the maternal and neonatal perinatal factors could affect the premature neonate's mortality. Considering these factors could be effective in determining at risk neonates and providing factors in reducing mortality.