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Hypothermia among neonates admitted to the neonatal unit at a tertiary hospital in South Africa

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 433–438 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of hypothermia on admission and at 24 h of life in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) and associated morbidity and mortality.

Study design

Hospital records of VLBWI admitted to a neonatal unit were reviewed for information on patient's body temperature, clinical characteristics and mortality. Comparisons between normothermic and hypothermic VLBWI were performed.

Results

Mean gestational age and birth weight of enrolled infants were 29 ± 3 weeks and 1140 ± 253 g, respectively. Prevalence of admission hypothermia was 46.1%, with 38% developing hypothermia within 24-h following admission. VLBWI with hypothermia were more likely to have been born vaginally [aOR 2.85 (1.37–5.91)], have a birth weight < 1000 g [aOR 2.28 (1.25–4.16)], required resuscitation at birth [aOR 2.20 (1.23–3.94)], develop metabolic acidosis [aOR 3.04 (1.35–6.84)] and die within the first week of life [aOR 4.79 (1.43–16.02)].

Conclusions

Prevalence of hypothermia in VLBWI is high and is associated with poor outcomes.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the work done by the clinical staff at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital neonatal unit, and the records department for assistance in retrieval of the medical records.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Jacqueline C. Ng’eny & Sithembiso Velaphi

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  1. Jacqueline C. Ng’eny
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  2. Sithembiso Velaphi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacqueline C. Ng’eny.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical statement

Ethical approval for the study was received from the University of Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee prior to undertaking the study (Protocol reference number M170540).

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Ng’eny, J.C., Velaphi, S. Hypothermia among neonates admitted to the neonatal unit at a tertiary hospital in South Africa. J Perinatol 40, 433–438 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0539-y

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