Abstract
ABSTRACT Purpose: Meconium aspiration syndrome as one of the devasting
conditions which remains the major cause of neonatal morbidity and
mortality. Preterm infants affected by this life-threatening disease did
not get enough attention. The aim of this study was to identify risk
factors associated with mortality of preterm infant hospitalized with
meconium aspiration syndrome. Methods: We undertook a case-control study
in a neonatal diagnosis and treatment center in China over a ten-year
period. Preterm newborns affected by meconium aspiration syndrome with
early onset of respiratory distress hospitalized in NICU were included.
Variables were compared between the non-survival group and survival
group. Logistic regression model was conducted to identify risk factors
associated with mortality. Results: Totally 92 preterm infants were
included, 31(33.7%) died. Their median gestational age was 33.4 weeks,
and their mean birth weight was 1925.2 g. Female[19(61.3%) vs
18(29.5%), P=0.003], arterial blood pH[7.22(±0.13) vs 7.30(±0.12),
p=0.008], persistent pulmonary hypertension[19(61.3%) vs
21(34.4%), P=0.014], and pulmonary hemorrhage[16(51.6%) vs
13(21.3%), P=0.003] were associated with an increased rate of
mortality. In the logistic regression model, the risk of death were
found to be statistically associated with the following three factors:
Female [odds ratio (OR) 3.91; 95% confidence interval(CI)
(1.37-11.16); P=0.011], persistent pulmonary hypertension [OR 3.12;
95% CI (1.10-8.89); P=0.033], and pulmonary hemorrhage [OR 4.36;
95% CI (1.53-12.45); P=0.006]. Conclusions: The MAS-associated
fatality rates in preterm infant was significantly high. Female,
persistent pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary hemorrhage were
considered independent predictors of MAS-associated mortality.