exudates and Enterocolitis--Necrotizing

The role of hypoalbuminemia and raised C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in predicting critical prognosis has been described extensively in adult literature. However, there are limited studies in pediatrics, particularly neonates. The CRP/albumin (CRP/ALB) ratio is often associated with higher mortality, organ failure and prolonged hospital stay. We hypothesized that the serum CRP/ALB ratio has a prognostic value in predicting surgery and mortality in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).. Retrospective review of all neonates with clinical and radiological evidence of non-perforated NEC that were treated in a tertiary-level referral hospital between 2009 and 2018. General patient demographics, laboratory parameters and outcomes were recorded. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was performed to evaluated optimal cut-offs and area under the curve (AUC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).. A total of 191 neonates were identified. Of these, 103 (53.9%) were born at ≤ 28 weeks of gestation and 101 (52.9%) had a birth weight of ≤ 1000 g. Eighty-four (44.0%) patients underwent surgical intervention for NEC. The overall survival rate was 161/191 (84.3%). A CRP/ALB ratio of ≥ 3 on day 2 of NEC diagnosis was associated with a statistically significant higher likelihood for surgery [AUC 0.71 (95% CI 0.63-0.79); p < 0.0001] and mortality [AUC 0.66 (95% CI 0.54-0.77); p = 0.0150], respectively.. A CRP/ALB ratio of ≥ 3 on day 2 is indicative of a critical pathway in neonates with radiologically confirmed, non-perforated NEC. This could be used as an additional criterion to guide parental counselling in NEC for surgical intervention and mortality.

Topics: Biomarkers; Birth Weight; C-Reactive Protein; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Malaysia; Male; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; ROC Curve; Serum Albumin; Survival Rate

The study aims to determine the risk factors associated with mortality and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) among very low birthweight infants in 95 neonatal intensive care units in the Asian Network on Maternal and Newborn Health.. This is a cross-sectional study using an international collaborative database of 17,595 very low birthweight infants admitted within 28 days of birth between 2003 and 2006 in four Asian countries. Information on the mortality and morbidity of neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care units was recorded. Factors associated with the death and diseases of infants were estimated using multilevel multivariate logistic regression. Random effects were included to account for the clustering of the observations.. Overall discharge mortality was 15% and it was significantly different by countries and units. The mortality rate was found to be significantly higher in neonates with pulmonary haemorrhage (odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.63-2.04) and air leak syndrome (odds ratio 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.30-1.72). The incidence of NEC was 4.3% and was strongly associated with other morbidities. Multivariate logistic regression showed that patent ductus arteriosus was the most significant risk factor associated with NEC.. Our analysis has highlighted the great potential that multi-country, collaborative datasets have in terms of epidemiologic research when it comes to identifying issues in perinatal health that are common throughout Asia, and in relation to particular issues pertaining to specific countries and neonatal units. Establishing collaborative networks, conducting analyses of common datasets and further epidemiologic research are now essential measures to improve newborn health in Asia.

Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing; Female; Hong Kong; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Incidence; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Japan; Logistic Models; Malaysia; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Risk Factors; Singapore

This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight (VLBW; weight < 1,501 g) infants in Malaysian neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).. This was a retrospective study based on data collected in a standardised format for all VLBW infants born in 2007 (n = 3,601) and admitted to 31 NICUs in Malaysian public hospitals. A diagnosis of NEC was made based on clinical, radiological and/or histopathological evidence of stage II or III, according to Bell's criteria. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the significant risk factors associated with NEC.. 222 (6.2%) infants developed NEC (stage II, n = 197; stage III, n = 25). 69 (31.3%) infants died (stage II, n = 58; stage III, n = 11). The significant risk factors associated with NEC were: maternal age (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.024, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.003-1.046; p = 0.027), intrapartum antibiotics (OR 0.639, 95% CI 0.421-0.971; p = 0.036), birth weight (OR 0.999, 95% CI 0.998-0.999; p < 0.001), surfactant therapy (OR 1.590, 95% CI 1.170-2.161; p = 0.003), congenital pneumonia (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.405-2.848; p < 0.001) and indomethacin therapy for the closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (OR 1.821, 95% CI 1.349-2.431; p = 0.001).. Increasing maternal age, decreasing birth weight, surfactant therapy, congenital pneumonia and indomethacin therapy for the closure of PDA were associated with an increased risk of NEC in Malaysian VLBW infants. Infants that received intrapartum antibiotics were associated with a reduced risk of developing NEC.

Topics: Birth Weight; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Malaysia; Male; Odds Ratio; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors