Status of infants at birth and risk for adverse neonatal events and long-term sequelae: a study in low birth weight infants.
We evaluated the relationship of infant status at birth to neonatal morbidity and long-term development in 246 low birth weight infants (600 to 1750 gm). Nineteen percent of infants had 1-minute Apgar scores of less than or equal to 3, and 8% had an umbilical artery pH of less than or equal to 7.2. Acidosis was associated with an increased risk of grade 3 to 4 intracranial hemorrhage (odds ratio = 3.3). Low 1-minute Apgar score was associated with an increased risk of death (odds ratio = 4.8). Grade 3 to 4 intracranial hemorrhage was a strong risk factor for cerebral palsy among survivors (odds ratio = 16.1), as was low 1-minute Apgar score (odds ratio = 2.9). Only 15% of cases of cerebral palsy in this study were associated with acidosis at birth.
D000138:Acidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001034:Apgar Score; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000209:etiology*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors