TempWatch for Monitoring Hypothermia in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Pranitha Reddy Muppidi, Srinivas Murki, Sai Kiran, Tejo Pratap Oleti, Venkat Reddy Kallem, Bhargavi Kamineni, Venkateshwarlu Vardhelli, Deepak Sharma
Abstract
Background: Hypothermia contributes significantly to neonatal morbidity and mortality. In stable, very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, poor weight is often attributed to cold stress and unidentified hypothermia. Continuous temperature monitoring could prevent prolonged hypothermia and subsequently improve weight gain.
Aim: This study evaluated whether continuous temperature monitoring with a device (TempWatch, BEMPU, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India) or standard intermittent temperature monitoring with a thermometer would result in improved weight gain in stable VLBW infants over 28 days.
Materials and Methods: Preterm infants ( N = 1 00) in a hospital kangaroo ward were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial and were segregated into the TempWatch group and control group. Infants in the TempWatch group wore the device for 24 hours a day, and parents confirmed any hypothermia alarms with a thermometer. For the control group infants, parents did standard thermometer temperature monitoring every 6 hours. Weight, length, head circumference, days in the kangaroo ward, and daily episodes of hypothermia were measured.
Results: There were no significant differences in weight gain, length, or head circumference between the TempWatch and the control groups. However, the detection of hypothermic episodes was significantly higher in the TempWatch group.
Conclusion: TempWatch provides a higher rate of hypothermia detection than a standard monitor, giving clinicians a more accurate picture of the incidence of hypothermia in VLBW infants and allowing for more rapid intervention to address hypothermia.
Additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to further evaluate the effect of TempWatch on the growth of VLBW infants.
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