Mortality and Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight Infants in Faculty of Medicine Navamindradhiraj University Mortality and Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mortality and morbidity rate of very low birth weight infants (VLBW) who were admitted to the neonatal care unit of Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University.
METHODS: A retrospective review of statistical data from the medical record of VLBW infants who were admitted between January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2020 (7 years). The statistical data include data collected until infants were discharged from hospital.
RESULTS: A total of 217 VLBW infants were analyzed. The mortality rate among VLBW infants during the 7-year study is 12%. The infant’s mortality rates of birth weight (BW) 1,000-1,499 g and 500-999 g were 5% and 25%, respectively. The mean gestational age was 29.4 ± 2.7 weeks, the mean BW was 1079.8 ± 255.9 g . The common morbidities were respiratory distress syndrome (65%), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (34.1%), hemodynamic significant patent ductus arteriosus (41%) and culture positive late onset sepsis (35.9%). On the 28^th day after birth, the survival rate of birth weight 1,000-1,499 g was 95.7% and significantly higher than birth weight 500-999 g extremely low birth weight (ELBW) (80.3%). In addition, when comparing BW in two groups, it was found that the mortality and morbidity rate were higher in ELBW group with statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). The trend of mortality rate for VLBW infants were 23.3%, 20.7% and 18.2% in 2015-2017. However, the mortality rate was decreased to 7.9%, 3% and 7.3% in 2018-2020.
CONCLUSION: The mortality and morbidity rates are significantly correlated to BW. The mortality and morbidity rate of VLBW infants tend to decrease each year.