Table 1 Clinical definitions
From: Risk factors for mortality among neonates admitted to a special care unit in a low-resource setting
Diagnosis at admission | Definition |
|---|---|
Sepsis | Maternal history of fever or prolonged rupture of membranes > 18 h, and/or neurologic findings (apnea, convulsions, unconsciousness), and/or moderate hypothermia (< 36 °C) or hyperthermia (> 37.5 °C), and/or breastfeeding difficulties [15,16,17,18] within 72 h (early onset) or later (late onset). |
Other infections | Skin infections, abscesses, genital-urinary infections, pneumonia. |
Low birthweight | Birthweight below 2500 g [16]. Sub-groups in the manuscript were: -LBW (low birthweight, 1500–2499 g), -VLBW (very low birth weight, 1000–1499 g), -ELBW (extremely low birth weight, < 1000 g). |
Intrapartum-related complications | Failure to initiate spontaneous regular respirations after birth and/or 5-min Apgar score less than 7 and/or Sarnat & Sarnat stage 2 or more at admission [10, 15, 19]. |
Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) | Presence of respiratory distress in infants born through meconium-stained amniotic fluid [20]. |
Respiratory distress | Signs of respiratory insufficiency (tachypnea, dyspnea, and grunting) and need for oxygen supplementation for more than 2 days [21]. |
Transient tachypnea of the newborn | Presence of tachypnea and need for oxygen supplementation within 2 days of life [21]. |
Malformations | Diagnosis was based on clinical examination and/or radiological investigation (i.e. X-rays and Doppler ultrasound). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), chromosome analysis and chromosome microarray were not available in the hospital. |
Neonatal hypothermia at admission | Mild hypothermia: 36–36.4 °C [16]. Moderate hypothermia: neonatal temperature 32–35.9 °C [16]. Severe hypothermia: neonatal temperature < 32 °C [16]. |
Neonatal hyperthermia at admission | Neonatal temperature > 37.5 °C [16]. |