A prospective study to compare morbidity and mortality profile between late preterm and term neonates from a hospital in Indore

Background: Late preterm babies born between 34 and <37 weeks of gestation have documented various short-term and long-term adverse outcomes, extra burden on health care, and increased hospitalization rate. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate outcome of late preterm neonates and to compare their morbidity and mortality with term neonates. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among late preterm babies and term babies from January 2015 to July 2016 in a hospital of Indore. A pre-structured pro forma was used to record data on antenatal care, maternal risk factors, mode of delivery, birth weight, gestational age, gender, diagnosis, relevant investigations, duration of stay, and outcome. Their mortality and morbidity pattern were compared with the term counterparts. Results: The total number of live births during the study period was 14,372, of which 2602 were late preterm neonates (16%). Neonatal intensive care unit admission rate was 24.7% among late preterm while 8.87% in term neonates. Jaundice (9%), septicemia (7.8%), respiratory distress (7.6%), and hypoglycemia (6%) were among the common morbidities in late preterm babies, while in term group the incidence rates of these complications were 3.34%, 3.38%, 3.41%, and 2.56%, respectively. Conclusion: The mortality and morbidity among late preterm neonates were higher as compared to their term counterparts, implying the need for special attention to these babies because they may be overlooked among other preterm and sick babies