title: Morbidity pattern of sick hospitalized preterm infants in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: Despite recent advances, prematurity is associated with high morbidity and mortality in developing countries. We conducted a descriptive case series to identify frequency of various morbidities in premature neonates at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, from November 2008 to April 2009. All inborn premature < or = 37 weeks gestation were included in study. The frequency of preterm birth during study period was 13.3% (251/1885) of which 58% (n = 145) required admission in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Mean gestational age was 33 +/- 2.4 weeks and mean birth weight, was 1.88 +/- 0.5 kg. 25% of patients were small for gestational age (SGA) while 75% appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Metabolic derangement was the most common morbidity, observed in 93% of patients followed by sepsis, seen in 43.6% neonates. Respiratory distress syndrome was observed in 35.5% of neonates while intraventricular haemorrhage was seen only in 3.5% patients. Mean length of stay for preterm infants in NICU was 11.5 +/- 9.6 days, 14% (n = 20) preterm neonates expired during NICU stay.
authors: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors: Muhammad Rehan
authors: MR
authors: Khan
authors: Prem Kumar
authors: PK
authors: Maheshwari
authors: Huma
authors: H
authors: Shamim
authors: Shakeel
authors: S
authors: Ahmed
authors: Syed Rehan
authors: SR
authors: Ali
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan