TITLE:
A Comparison between Late Preterm and Term Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Early-Onset Sepsis, and Neonatal Jaundice in Ecuadorian Newborns
AUTHORS:
Teresa Altamirano Molina
KEYWORDS:
Late Preterm, Term Newborn, Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Early Onset Sepsis, Jaundice
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.14 No.1,
January
8,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: To examine the differences in prevalence of respiratory distress
syndrome, early-onset sepsis and jaundice, between late preterm infants versus
term infants in Ecuadorian newborns. Methods: Study design:
Epidemiological, observational, and cross-sectional, with two cohorts of
patients. Settings: IESS Quito Sur Hospital at Quito, Ecuador, from February to
April of 2020. Participants: This study included 204 newborns, 102 preterm
infants, 102 term infants. Results: There are significant differences
between late preterm infants and term infants, with a p-value of 0.000 in the
prevalence of early sepsis, 70.59% vs. 35.29%. In respiratory distress syndrome
between late and term premature infants, significant differences were observed
with a p-value of 0.000, the proportion being 55.58% vs. 24.51% respectively.
The prevalence of jaundice is higher in term infants with a p value of 0.002,
72.55%, versus 51.96% in late preterm infants, and the mean value of bilirubins
in mg/dL was higher in term infants 14.32 versus 12.33 in late preterm infants; this
difference is statistically significant with a p value of 0.004. Admission to
the NICU is more frequent in late preterm infants with a p-value of 0.000,
being 42.16% for late preterm infants vs. 7.84% in term infants; the mean of
the hospital days with p-value 0.005, was higher in late preterm infants 4.97
days vs. 3.55 days for term newborns. Conclusion: Due to the conditions of
their immaturity, late preterm infants are 2.86 times more likely to present
early sepsis than full-term newborns. It is shown that late preterm infants are
2.69 times more likely to have respiratory distress syndrome compared to term
infants, therefore, late preterm infants have a longer hospital stay of 4.97
days versus 3.55 days in term infants. Jaundice and mean bilirubin levels are
higher in term infants due to blood group incompatibility and insufficient
breastfeeding.