Disease Patterns and Outcomes of Neonatal Admissions at a Secondary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the disease patterns and outcome of patients admitted to the neonatal unit of a secondary care hospital in Pakistan from January to December 2009. Methods: Retrospective data from the medical records of all neonates admitted during the study period were reviewed and analysed for age, weight, sex, reason for admission, duration of hospital stay, diagnosis and final outcome. Trends were examined to identify the indicators of inpatient neonatal deaths. Results: The total number of neonates admitted during the study period was 1,554; 979 were male (63%), and 575 were female (37%). A total of 891 patients (57.3%) were born in the hospital while 663 (42.7%) were born elsewhere. The majority were admitted during the first 24 hours of life (51.3%). A total of 13 patients (0.8%) weighed <1 Kg; 85 (5.4%) weighed 1–1.49 Kg, and 587 (37.7%) between 1.5–2.5 Kg. Prematurity and infection were the main reasons for admission (27.9% and 20.33%, respectively), followed by birth asphyxia (13%) and neonatal jaundice (11.3%). A total of 1,287 patients (82.8%) were discharged, 41 left against medical advice (2.6%), 59 were referred to tertiary care hospitals (3.79%) and 106 (6.8%) died. Conclusion: Prematurity, low birth weight, birth asphyxia and neonatal jaundice were the major causes of neonatal admissions. This could be reduced by appropriate antenatal care, timely intervention, and in-time referral to tertiary care centres for the deliveries of all high-risk pregnancies. The major cause of neonatal mortality was prematurity.