Morbidity and Mortality Outcomes of Neonates admitted from other Health Care Facilities in a Resource-Limited Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Objective: To determine the morbidity and mortality outcomes of neonates admitted from other health care facilities in a resource limited neonatal intensive care unit. Study Design: Prospective longitudinal study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatrics, Combined Military Hospital, Sialkot Pakistan, from Oct 2022 to Mar 2023. Methodology: A total of 160 newborns were included. Their chronological and postmenstrual age, weight and gender were recorded. After investigations, they were followed for final diagnosis and outcome. Results: The mean age of these neonates on admission was 3.11±4.92 days with majority of the neonates (70%) less than 24 hours old. Most were males (63.1)%. With a mean weight of 2.35±0.65 kg. Low birth weight (LBW), which was seen in 25.63% of cases, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) with prematurity, seen in 20.63 % neonates, and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), seen in 17.5% neonates, were the major factors associated with morbidity. Whereas mortality was associated predominantly with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), seen in 26.27% cases, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), seen in 25% and neonatal sepsis, seen in 20% of cases. The majority of admitted cases experienced a successful discharge (86.25%), with an overall mortality rate of 13.75%. Conclusion: Morbidity was predominantly due to low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome with prematurity and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Higher mortality was seen in cases of meconium aspiration syndrome, intrauterine growth retardation and sepsis.