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. 2023 May 8.
doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17506. Online ahead of print.

Neonatal mortality risk for vulnerable newborn types in 15 countries using 125.5 million nationwide birth outcome records, 2000-2020

Lorena Suárez-Idueta  1 , Hannah Blencowe  2 , Yemisrach B Okwaraji  2 , Judith Yargawa  2 , Ellen Bradley  2 , Adrienne Gordon  3 , Vicki Flenady  4 , Enny S Paixao  2   5 , Mauricio L Barreto  5 , Sarka Lisonkova  6 , Qi Wen  6 , Petr Velebil  7 , Jitka Jírová  8 , Erzsebet Horváth-Puhó  9 , Henrik Toft Sørensen  9 , Luule Sakkeus  10 , Liili Abuladze  10   11 , Khalid A Yunis  12 , Ayah Al Bizri  12 , Arturo Barranco  13 , Lisa Broeders  14 , Aimée E van Dijk  14 , Fawziya Alyafei  15 , Tawa O Olukade  15 , Neda Razaz  16 , Jonas Söderling  16 , Lucy K Smith  17 , Elizabeth S Draper  17 , Estelle Lowry  18 , Neil Rowland  19 , Rachael Wood  20   21 , Kirsten Monteath  22 , Isabel Pereyra  23 , Gabriella Pravia  23 , Eric O Ohuma  2 , Joy E Lawn  2 ; National Vulnerable Newborn Mortality Collaborative Group and Vulnerable Newborn Measurement Core Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Neonatal mortality risk for vulnerable newborn types in 15 countries using 125.5 million nationwide birth outcome records, 2000-2020

Lorena Suárez-Idueta et al. BJOG. .

Abstract

Objective: To compare neonatal mortality associated with six novel vulnerable newborn types in 125.5 million live births across 15 countries, 2000-2020.

Design: Population-based, multi-country study.

Setting: National data systems in 15 middle- and high-income countries.

Methods: We used individual-level data sets identified for the Vulnerable Newborn Measurement Collaboration. We examined the contribution to neonatal mortality of six newborn types combining gestational age (preterm [PT] versus term [T]) and size-for-gestational age (small [SGA], <10th centile, appropriate [AGA], 10th-90th centile or large [LGA], >90th centile) according to INTERGROWTH-21st newborn standards. Newborn babies with PT or SGA were defined as small and T + LGA was considered as large. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) and population attributable risks (PAR%) for the six newborn types.

Main outcome measures: Mortality of six newborn types.

Results: Of 125.5 million live births analysed, risk ratios were highest among PT + SGA (median 67.2, interquartile range [IQR] 45.6-73.9), PT + AGA (median 34.3, IQR 23.9-37.5) and PT + LGA (median 28.3, IQR 18.4-32.3). At the population level, PT + AGA was the greatest contributor to newborn mortality (median PAR% 53.7, IQR 44.5-54.9). Mortality risk was highest among newborns born before 28 weeks (median RR 279.5, IQR 234.2-388.5) compared with babies born between 37 and 42 completed weeks or with a birthweight less than 1000 g (median RR 282.8, IQR 194.7-342.8) compared with those between 2500 g and 4000 g as a reference group.

Conclusion: Preterm newborn types were the most vulnerable, and associated with the highest mortality, particularly with co-existence of preterm and SGA. As PT + AGA is more prevalent, it is responsible for the greatest burden of neonatal deaths at population level.

Keywords: neonatal mortality; preterm birth; size for gestational age; vulnerable newborn.

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References

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