Retrospective Evaluation of Neonatal Morbidities of Full-term and Early Term Newborns

Introduction: Newborns having a gestational age between 37 to 416/7 weeks are defined as term newborn. The aim of the study was to investigate the rates and causes of hospitalization, and the differences in neonatal morbidities between early-term and full-term infants as a single-center experience in our hospital. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit between January 2013 and December 2014. Maternal characteristics and comorbidities; neonatal characteristics, length of hospital stay, and neonatal morbidities were recorded. Primary outcome measure was need for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Results: Maternal comorbidities, ceserean delivery, low birth weight, SGA and multiple gestations were found to be higher in early-term infants and earlytenn infants were at higher risk for respiratory morbidities, respiratory support requirement, hypoglycemia and intravenous antibiotic therapy. After multivariate logistic regression analyses, only higher risk for respiratory morbidity persisted (OR:1.28 [1.02-1.59]; p=0.02). In contrast to that, full-term infants was found to be at higher risk for hypernatremia compared to early-term infants. Conclusions: Early term birth is associated with a higher neonatal morbidity and NICU admissions, and gestational age is known to be the most important determinant of this situation. With advanced maternal care and better understanding of the factors causing early term birth will lead to prevention and successfull management of this risk group.