Demographic and clinical status of the neonates admitted to an intensive care unit in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: The neonatal intensive care unit is a fundamental sector for the survival of high-risk newborns. Such a unit involves high-complexity assistance with teams trained in newborn care, reconciling technological advances with proper approaches to humanized care practices. Usually, the outcomes of neonatal intensive care unit patients depend upon the demographic and clinical status of the patients. In Bangladesh, we have very limited research-based information regarding this issue. This study aimed to assess the demographic and clinical status of neonates admitted to an intensive care unit in Bangladesh. Methods: This was an observational cohort study that was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U.) of Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from October 2009 to September 2010. In total 230 neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, after fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study as study subjects. Properly written consent was taken in favour of all the participants before data collection. All data were processed, analysed and disseminated by using MS Excel and SPSS version 15.0 program as per necessity. Results: Among the total of 230 participants, the male-female ratio was 1.7:1 and gestational age was found as >37 weeks in 60% of neonates. The age of the majority of the neonates (53%) was <7 days. The diaphragmatic hernia was present in the highest number (n=17) of cases as a single congenital anomaly. As the disease pattern, perinatal asphyxia with complications, preterm low birth weight with sepsis and congenital anomalies were found in 24.8%, 20.4% and 23% of cases respectively. Among the total of our patients, in 55% of cases, acid-base derangements were present. Conclusions: The higher frequency of ICU admission of male neonates is alarming for the neonatal care system. The first week of neonatal ICU may be considered the most critical period, especially for preterm babies. Neonates with perinatal asphyxia, preterm low birth weight with sepsis and congenital anomalies are some common features among neonatal ICU care patients.