Incidence and risk factors of hypoglycemia among neonates: a hospital based prospective study

Abstract

Background: Among neonates, one of the common metabolic problem is hypoglycemia. Hence basic care of the neonate involves monitoring of blood glucose. If not diagnosed and treated early, it may lead to problems associated with physical growth and neurodevelopment. The objective was to study incidence and risk factors of hypoglycemia among neonates.Methods: This was a prospective study carried out at a tertiary care center. 100 neonates were included. Standard glucometer was used to measure blood glucose in mothers and neonates. For mothers, it was measured at time of delivery. For neonates, it was measured at zero, three, six, twelve and twenty four hours of birth. Standard treatment protocol was followed for neonatal hypoglycemia.Results: Incidence of hypoglycemia at birth was 17%. As maternal blood glucose increased, neonatal glucose decreased. Important risk factors found for hypoglycemia in neonates were being born by lower segment cesarean section (LSCS), low for gestational age (LGA) babies and small for gestational age (SGA) babies, pre-term and post term babies. But these risk factors were not found to be statistically significant (p>0.05).Conclusions: Blood glucose varied widely in the neonates. Important risk factors found for hypoglycemia in neonates were being born by LSCS, LGA babies and SGA babies, pre-term and post term babies.