Abstract
Increased neonatal mortality at high altitudes is associated with reduced oxygen availability. In the Central Andes (4340 m) 21.6% of all newborns at term have a low pulse oxygen saturation (SpO/2) (< 30%) compared with 3.05% of newborns at sea level. Why some groups are more hypoxemic than others at the same high altitude seems to be related to the number of generations they have lived at that altitude. For example populations from the Central Andes settled at a later date and are more hypoxemic than populations from the Cusco region in the Southern Andes. The present study examined SpO/2 in 201 healthy newborns at Hospital Antonio Lorena Cusco. All parents were natives of Cusco. Gestational age was between 37 and 42 weeks using the last date of normal menstruation. Newborns with fetal dystocia or malformations were excluded. Apgar scores were taken at 1 and 5 minutes and the newborns were followed up for 28 days. The study was approved by the review board of the University. (excerpt)
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call