Abstract
Although mortality rate has been reported to be directly related to birthweight (BW) and gestational age (GA), there is little data regarding the impact of these factors related to cause of death in the very low BW infants of Hispanic heritage. During the 18 month period from January 1982 to July 1983 there were 22,903 deliveries at the LAC/USC Medical Center, a tertiary perinatal center with a predominantly (87%) Hispanic population. There were 289 live born infants with BW between 500-1500 g. One hundred twenty five or 43% of these infants died. Among the non-survivors, 60% were male, Apgar score of ≤ 5 were found in 88% and 60% at 1 and 5 minutes respectively, 80% required assisted ventilation and 60% had respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). In infants with BW ≤ 1000g the mortality was 73% and the major causes of death were immaturity (48%), birth asphyxia (19%) and RDS (15%). In infants with BW 1001-1500g the mortality was 20% and the major causes of death were congenital anomalies (25%), intraventricular hemorrhage (25%) and RDS (22%). The mortality of the infants ≤ 28 weeks gestation was 76% compared to 27% in infants > 28 weeks. When infants weighed ≤ 1000g, survival was independent upon GA rather than BW. However, when infants weighed > 1000g, GA was not a factor since the outcome was similar in all categories. We conclude that the reduction of nursery mortality in our center is quality dependent upon the prevention of extreme prematurity (GA < 28 wks.) rather than upon BW≤1000g.
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Teberg, A., Hotrakitya, S., Wu, P. et al. CAUSE OF DEATH IN VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC POPULATION: RELATIONSHIP TO BIRTH WEIGHT AND GESTATIONAL AGE. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 351 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01549
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01549