Clinical Patterns and Outcome of Low Birth Weight Babies Admitted in NICU Tertiary Hospital of Western Nepal

Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the major determinants of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The survival and outcomes of LBW infants varied from hospital to hospital within a country. The objective of the study is to identify the clinical patterns and hospital outcome of LBW babies in a Tertiary care centre, Pokhara. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary hospital after taking ethical approval from the institutional review board. Data on all the LBW babies admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from 15th May 2019 to 16th October 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Data entered in excel and descriptive analysis were done in SPSS version 25. Results: Of 198 LBW babies, 120 (60.6%) were males and 78 (39.4%) females. Mean birth weight was 1.67 kg (± 0.42 SD), median 1.7 kg, ranging from 0.6 kg to 2.4 kg. Mean gestational age was 32.86 weeks (± 2.72 SD) and median was 33 weeks. 187 (94.4%) were preterm and 11 (5.6%) term. By birth weight, 17 (8.6%) were found to be ELBW, 53 (26.8%) VLBW and 128 (64.6%) LBW. 143 (72.2%) were AGA, 54(27.2%) SGA and one was LGA. Hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal sepsis and hypoglycemia were common problems encountered in NICU. Inadequate ANC, premature rupture of membrane, and low hemoglobin were the common maternal factors for LBW babies. Conclusions: Prematurity was the major cause of LBW and majority were male babies. LBW babies had relatively more problems in NICU.