Pattern and predictors of mortality among inborn and out born neonates on ventilatory support: an unmatched case-control study.

Background: Limited literature was available on the pattern and determinants of mortality among inborn neonates in comparison to the out born ones. The study's goal was to investigate the patterns and risk factors for mortality among hospitalised, on-ventilator inborn and out born neonates.

Materials and methods: It was an unmatched, case-control, pilot study conducted between January and December 2020 using information retrieved from the medical records of patients attending the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary healthcare facility, namely Narayan Medical College & Hospital, situated in eastern India.

Results: Congenital pneumonia was the leading cause of death in inborn neonates, with an overall mortality rate of 33.4%. Meanwhile, the overall fatality rate for out born neonates was found to be 43.3%, with birth hypoxia being the most common cause. The only significant attribute affecting mortality in inborn neonates was low arterial blood gas (ABG) pH, whereas in out born neonates they were prematurity, thrombocytopenia, low ABG pO₂, and high pCO₂. Overall, new-borns with thrombocytopenia, low ABG pO₂, and high pCO₂ were observed to be at higher risk for mortality compared to others.

Conclusion: The mortality rate of out born neonates was higher than inborn ones. The attributes affecting mortality were observed to be prematurity, thrombocytopenia, low ABG pH, pO₂, and high pCO₂.