Clinical Risk Index for Babies Score and Neurosonogram: Predictors of Adverse Outcomes in Preterm Neonates Born at < 32 Weeks of Gestation
Divya Ajith, Radhika Sujatha, Sobhakumar Saraswathy
Abstract
Background and Aim: Preterm neonates are a vulnerable population, and hence, they require utmost care during the initial days of their life. Assessing the severity of neonatal illnesses (eg, respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory failure, shock, and intraventricular hemorrhage) is an important factor to help them survive.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of use of a combination of Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) and neurosonogram (NSG) in predicting mortality or severe neurodevelopmental disability (NDD) in preterm neonates.
Materials and Methods: This prospective follow-up study was conducted among 165 preterm neonates born at < 32 weeks of gestation and who survived the first 72 hours of life. Of the 165 neonates, 52 died at the hospital and 15 were lost to follow-up during the study period. Hence, the remaining 98 neonates were followed up to assess the NDD. The CRIB score was calculated and NSG was done in all the neonates. 2 or Fisher’s exact test was done to find the association of mortality or NDD with CRIB score and abnormal NSG. A P value of < .05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Of the 98 neonates, 67.9% of the neonates had a CRIB score of < 10, and 47.9% of the neonates had an abnormal NSG. In our study, a CRIB score of > 10 was associated with high mortality (P = .00) and NDD at 1 year of age (P < .01).
Conclusion: Evaluation of the preterm neonates for their severity of illnesses using a combination of CRIB score and NSG was more accurate in predicting mortality and NDD compared with evaluation by CRIB score and NSG alone.
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