Recurrence of hypoglycaemia and associated factors among neonates admitted with perinatal asphyxia in Northwest Ethiopia: multicentre, retrospective follow-up study with negative binomial regression.

Objective: To estimate the recurrence of hypoglycaemia and the associated factors in neonates with birth asphyxia admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in Northwest Amhara region's comprehensive specialised hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia, in 2024.

Design: A multicentre, institution-based, retrospective follow-up study.

Setting: Tertiary hospitals in Northwest Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia, from 1 July 2020 to 30 July 2024.

Participants: A total of 761 neonates with perinatal asphyxia were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of selected public hospitals in Northwest Amhara from July 2020 to July 2024.

Outcome measure: The primary outcome measure of this study was recurrence of hypoglycaemia. Furthermore, the factors associated with recurrence of hypoglycaemia in newborns with perinatal asphyxia were noted.

Results: The average number of hypoglycaemia cases among neonates with birth asphyxia was 2.05 (95% CI 1.939, 2.163) over the 28-day follow-up period. Meningitis (adjusted incidence rate ratio (AIRR)=1.16; 95% CI 1.04, 1.30), feeding in less than 72 hours (AIRR=1.17; 95% CI 1.05, 1.31), stage 3 hypoxic-ischaemic injury (AIRR=1.20; 95% CI 1.04, 1.39), length of hospital stay (AIRR=1.01; 95% CI 1.01, 1.03) and macrosomia (AIRR=1.39; 95% CI 1.19, 1.63) were significant factors associated with recurrence of hypoglycaemia.

Conclusions and recommendations: The current study indicated that the mean recurrence of hypoglycaemia in newborns experiencing perinatal asphyxia was considerably higher. Presence of neonatal meningitis, delayed initiation of feeding 72 hours after birth, stage 3 hypoxic-ischaemic injury, length of hospital stay and macrosomia were the key factors associated with recurrence of hypoglycaemia.