Incidence and risk factors for neonatal hypoglycaemia in Kerala, India.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the incidence and risk factors that predicted the occurrence of neonatal hypoglycaemia and to identify neonates who require mandatory blood glucose screening during the first 48 h of life.


METHODS
Hospital based prospective study in a maternity centre in south India.


METHODS
Labour room, postnatal wards and newborn nursery of the Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Medical College, Kozhikode, India.


METHODS
Six hundred and four neonates were enrolled in the study by a systematic random sampling method from 1 August to 1 November 2002. INTERVENTION/MEASUREMENT: Random blood glucose levels were estimated by the standard glucose oxidase--peroxidase method on two occasions 24 h apart, during the first 2 days of life. Nineteen clinical characteristics of the mother-baby pair were analysed statistically in relation to the occurrence of hypoglycaemia.


RESULTS
The incidence of neonatal hypoglycaemia in the present study group was 41/1000 live births. Eight variables strongly and independently predicted the risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia, at least one being present in 89.1% of the hypoglycaemic neonates. They included prematurity, low birthweight, maternal diabetes mellitus, delay in initiation of breastfeeding for more than 2 h postnatally, maternal pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, birth asphyxia, cold stress or hypothermia, and maternal oligohydramnios.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoglycaemia was a common problem in apparently normal asymptomatic babies. Apart from the classic 'text book risk factors', maternal oligohydramnios and a breastfeeding delay of more than 2 h after delivery predicted the risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia in this group. Mandatory blood glucose screening in babies with any one of the above mentioned risk factors serves as an easy and cost effective measure for the prompt identification of this condition.
Sasidharan
C K
CK
Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Medical College, Kozhikode, India.
Gokul
E
E
Sabitha
S
S
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D001786:Blood Glucose