Evaluation of Respiratory Problems According to Week of Delivery: A Comparative Analysis in Infants of Gestational Age 37 Weeks

Cesarean section deliveries at 37 weeks gestational period are incredibly high in Turkey. In order to determine the antenatal characteristics, respiratory morbidity and mortality cases, we have conducted a retrospective cohort study on this population.
514 infants encountering clinical signs of respiratory distress within 24 hours were enrolled. To compare the differences, infants were categorized into three groups as: late-preterm, early-term and full-term infants. Demographic and clinical data were explored.
Early-term infants represented higher RDS rates (13.1%; P = 0.033 for early-term and full-term infants; P = 0.338 for early-term and late-preterm infants), meconium aspiration syndrome (P Early-term neonates encounter respiratory problems, morbidities and significant respiratory distress syndrome rates similar to the rates of late preterm neonates and seemed to have a tendency to hypoxic deliveries with low Apgar scores. Considering the increasing delivery rate at this period, real estimates should be investigated in large, multi-centered prospective studies in terms of both short and long term outcomes.