Factors associated with mortality in a neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Aims: To describe the factors associated with mortality of newborns hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the period from 2012 to 2015. Methods: This was a descriptive, quantitative study of secondary data, correlated with the causes of death and hospitalization according to classification by ICD-10.  The categorical variables were presented in absolute and relative frequencies, with measurements of central tendency and dispersion. Evaluation of the factors associated with neonatal death was made by the logit model of analysis with correction of robust errors by the statistical program Stata 12.0, considering values of p<0.05 and interval of confidence of 95%.  Results: Of the 563 newborns, 58.6% were of the male sex; 89.0% were early newborns, 73.0% were premature. 181 newborns died (32.3%). The main causes of hospitalization were: difficulties during birth, conditions of birth and immaturity (45.0%), pathologies associated with the respiratory system (21.1%), congenital malformations (9.7%). The main causes of death were: septicemia of the NB (40.4%), respiratory discomfort of the NB (22.4%). The significant associations for mortality were the use of ventilatory supports: Mechanical Ventilation (p=0.001), Hallo (p=0.000), CPAP (p=0.000), VNI (p=0.005). Conclusions: The major risk factors for neonatal mortality were associated with septicemia and use of mechanical ventilation.