Prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality in neonates with Covid-19: a cross-sectional study in south of Iran

Due to high neonatal, maternal mortality and adverse pregnancy outcome, Covid-19 in neonates is concerned. This study aimed to determine the prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality in neonates with Covid-19.

This retrospective cross-sectional study (February-November 2020) was performed on infected neonates (<60 days) who were clinically diagnosed as Covid-19 and were hospitalized in Covid-19 wards in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences affiliated hospitals, southern Iran. Data were extracted from the patients' medical files, and were gathered in a data collecting form; including demographic characteristics, laboratory and clinical outcome. The patients were categorized as survivor and non-survivors groups, and then were compared.

Totally, 96 neonates were enrolled. The mean±SD of age was 13.01±10.88 days, and most of them were in the age group of 6-15 days (33.3%). Fifty-nine (61.5%) was male. The mortality rate was 12.5%. Lower gestational age (P=0.031), and the more frequency of having underlying diseases (P=0.010) was observed in non-survivors. The most signs and symptoms were respiratory distress (58.3%), lethargy (46.9%), and poor feeding (37.5%). Pulmonary radiological involvement was more in non-survivors (P<0.001), and it was more severe in these patients (P<0.001). The results of Multivariate Logistic Regression Model showed that only receiving IVIG (OR=20.2, P<0.001) was the independent predictor factor for in-hospital mortality in these patients.

The in-hospital mortality was obtained as 12.5% in the current study, and only receiving IVIG was the independent predictor factor for in-hospital mortality in neonates with Covid-19.