Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hypoglycemia in Preterm Infants before Discharge

Abstract

Objectives: To study the prevalence of and factors associated with hypoglycemia in preterm infants before discharge

Methods: Preterm infants who were less than 37 weeks of gestation and met the study criteria were recruited andreceived standard care of the hospital. At the time of discharge home, 2 consecutive blood glucose weremeasured from capillary blood by dextrostix before feeding (prepandial). Hypoglycemia was defined as bloodglucose measurement of less than 50 mg/dl. Collected data were gestational age, birth weight, body weight atstudy time, percentage of infant weight reduction, status of maternal diabetes mellitus and type of milk.Informed written consents were obtained from parents.

Results: 230 infants were enrolled, 113 were male (49%) and 117 were female (51%) with mean gestational age of34 ± 2.1 weeks. There were 61 episodes of hypoglycemia, correlated with prevalence of 26.5% and all had nosymptoms. The significant factors associated with hypoglycemia were maternal diabetes mellitus status,excessive infant weight reduction and exclusive breast feeding.

Conclusion: Hypoglycemia is common in preterm infants. 61 infants out of 230 (26.5%) were hypoglycemic. Infantswith history of maternal diabetes mellitus, excessive weight loss and/or exclusive breast feeding weresuggestive of hypoglycemic risk.