INVESTIGATION OF NEONATAL COMPLICATIONS IN LATE PRETERM INFANTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY WITH TERM INFANTS

Abstract

As a results of physiological immaturity Late preterm infants (34–36 weeks gestation) are at elevated chance of morbidity and mortality in contrast to term infants. The current study focussed to evaluate the influence of late preterm birth on neonatal outcomes and determine associated risk factors for mortality.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted on 200 neonates (100 late preterm, 100 term). Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared by employing chi-square and independent samples t-tests. To ascertain risk   factors associated with mortality Logistic regression was performed. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Late preterm infants had notably   lesser birth weights (2.177±0.531 kg vs. 2.966±0.584 kg, p<0.01) and lesser APGAR scores at 1 and 5 minutes (p<0.01). Morbidities including presumed sepsis, respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, perinatal asphyxia along with the need for mechanical ventilation were significantly inflated in late preterm infants (p<0.01). Similarly, mortality was also significantly prominent in late preterm infants (48% vs. 12%, p<0.01). Logistic regression detected mechanical ventilation as a robust predictor of mortality (OR: 0.027, p<0.001), whereas late preterm birth revealed a insignificant trend toward increased risk of mortality (p=0.094).Conclusion:Late preterm infants experienced significantly elevated morbidity and mortality as compared to term infants. The need for mechanical ventilation is a pivotal predictor of neonatal mortality. Increased infant care and timely interventions for late preterm infants could enhance outcomes.