Effect of perinatal period and obstetric characteristics on neonatal mortality and morbidity in preterm SGA and AGA babies with a birth weight of 1000–2000 g

INTRODUCTION: Our study aimed to present obstetric follow-up data, neonatal mortality, short-term neonatal morbidity, and 2-year infant neuromotor development follow-up data in preterm, 1000–2000 g birth weight cases.
METHODS: The study was carried out with 148 cases. Two groups were formed with fetal birth weights below the 5th percentile and in the 5th–95th percentile range. Demographic and obstetric characteristics, fetal well-being tests, and antenatal and neonatal characteristics were evaluated. Neurological follow-up of babies continued at Metin Sabancı Spastic Children Foundation for 2 years.
RESULTS: The study groups consisted of 63 small for gestational age (SGA) and 85 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Neuromotor development follow-up of 75 living infants continued for 2 years. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for the nonstress test, umbilical arterial blood gas pH and base deficit values, 1st and 5th minute Apgar scores, infant general condition. The 1st and 5th minute Apgar scores were statistically highly significant for deceased newborns in both groups (p=0.020 and p=0.012, respectively). Early neonatal morbidity and mortality rates and neuromotor development problems at 6–12 months in SGA and AGA groups were similar. At the end of two years, no pathological diagnosis was reported for motor and reflex development in 75 cases.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The gestational week of the SGA group is significantly ahead at birth, but the short- and long-term neonatal morbidities are similar for both groups. Our study reports the data of our clinic from 20 years ago. The infant mortality rate has shown a declining trend in recent years, but low birth weight infants are still at increased risk for mortality. Reinterpretation of morbidity and mortality data of preterm infants will be beneficial, together with innovations and improvements in neonatal care.