Prediction model for low birth weight and its validation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the factors associated with low birth weight (LBW) and to formulate a scale to predict the probability of having a LBW infant.


METHODS
This hospital based case-control study was conducted in a tertiary care university hospital in North India. The study included 250 LBW neonates and 250 neonates with birth weight ≥2,500 g. Data were collected by interviewing mothers using pre-designed structured questionnaire and from hospital records.


RESULTS
Factors significantly associated with LBW were inadequate weight gain by the mother during pregnancy (<8.9 kg), inadequate proteins in diet (<47 g/d), previous preterm baby, previous LBW baby, anemic mother and passive smoking. The prediction model made on these six variables has a sensitivity of 71.6 %, specificity 67.0 %, positive LR 2.17 and negative LR of 0.42 for a cut-off score of ≥29.25. On validation, it has a sensitivity of 72 % and specificity of 64 %.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to predict LBW using a prediction model based on significant risk factors associated with LBW.
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, 110029, India.
Avantika
A
Singh
Sugandha
S
Arya
Harish
H
Chellani
K C
KC
Aggarwal
R M
RM
Pandey
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D018570:Risk Assessment