[Evaluation of the glycemia of low-weight newborns within the 24th hour of life at Lomé University Hospital (Togo)]

Abstract

Objective: To assess the glycemia of low-weight newborns (LWNBs) during their first 24h of life as well as their mother's glycemia.

Patients and method: This was a cross-sectional prospective study within a case-control group, conducted at Lomé University Hospital (nationwide main hospital) from January to May 2006. One hundred thirty-nine LWNBs and 150 eutrophic term newborns (ETNBs), 98 mothers of LWNBs (MLWNBs), and 145 mothers of ETNBs (METNBs) were screened and monitored on glycemia dosage.

Results: The average glycemia level of the LWNBs (0.34 ± 0.27g/l) was significantly greater than the ETNBs' glycemia level (0.30 ± 0.14 g/l); it was nearly the same for the mean glycemia level of the MLWNBs (0.82 ± 0.2g/l) and the METNBs (0.77 ± 0.1g/l). Neonatal hypoglycemia during the first 24h of life was less frequent (RR=0.8) in the LWNBs (61.15%) than in the ETNBs (80%). The positive correlation between gestational age and glycemia was higher in the ETNBs (r=0.17) than in the LWNBs (r=0.07). This positive correlation between birthweight and glycemia was lower in the LWNBs (r=0.17) compared to the ETNBs (r=0.37); this was not the case within the group of the ETNBs (r=0.02) compared to the group of the LWNBs (r=0.34) concerning the correlation between the glycemia of mothers and newborns.

Conclusion: The early hypoglycemia was much greater in the ETNBs compared to the LWNBs. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically start breastfeeding all newborns within their first hours of life whatever their gestational age, in order to solve these metabolic disorders.