Factors affecting the severity of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the neonatal intensive care unit
Keywords:
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, Group B streptococcus infection, infant age 9 months, Neonatal intensive care unit, Risk factorsAbstract
Background: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) leads to brain injury and disability in newborns. Other risk factors include fetal oxygen deprivation and intrapartum factors. Examining factors affecting the severity of HIE will help improve the effectiveness of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment methods.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence the HIE in neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by collecting data from medical records of newborns diagnosed with HIE and admitted to the NICU. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact tests. The relationships among different elements and HIE intensity were also identified.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the infants’ gender, mode of delivery, maternal underlying diseases, birth weight, APGAR score at 5 minutes, pulse rate at 5 minutes, and the type of ventilation. Statistically significant differences were found in infection (p value 0.003). Infants with infection and shock were more likely to develop severe HIE.
Conclusion: Infection was a major factor influencing the severity of HIE in newborns.
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