A Profile of Neonatal Admissions and Mortality in Tertiary Care Hospital of Faisalabad

Abstract

Objective: To study the profile of neonatal admissions and their outcome in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: The study was conducted in the Neonatal Unit of The Children’s Hospital, Faisalabad for one year from 1st Jan 2015 to 31st Dec 2015. Data of all admitted patients during the study period were reviewed and analyzed in terms of demographics, weight, diagnosis, and outcome. The diagnosis was made on clinical features, laboratory reports, and radiological findings. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis.
Results: Out of 2662 neonates admitted during the study period, 35 were excluded. Out of the 2613 neonates, there were 1824 (69.8%) males and 789 (30.19%) females. There were 2355 (90.12%) full-term while 258(9.87%)babies were preterm neonates. Low birth weight (LBW) babies were 1216 (46.53%) of total cases. The newborns presenting within the first 24 hours of life were 319 (12.2%). Birth asphyxia was the commonest diagnosis at admission accounting for 807 cases (30.88%), followed by neonatal sepsis 751(28.74%) and prematurity 258(9.87%). Out of 2613 babies,1682 (64.4%) were discharged, 232(8.9%) left against medical advice, and 699 (26.8%) neonates expired. Among cases who died, the highest contribution was observed from birth asphyxia in 294 cases (42.60%) followed by neonatal sepsis 211 cases (30.18%) and prematurity 133 cases (19.02%).
Conclusion: Birth asphyxia, prematurity, and sepsis constitute three-fourths of hospital admissions in our
neonatal unit. The most common cause of mortality was prematurity followed by birth asphyxia and neonatal
sepsis.