Journal List > Korean J Perinatol > v.24(4) > 1013694

Hwang, Kim, Shin, Lee, Kim, Kim, and Choi: Respiratory Morbidities in Newborn Infants by Gestational Age Following Elective Cesarean Section beyond 35 Weeks of Gestation

Abstract

Purpose :

We evaluate respiratory morbidities in infants beyond 35 weeks of gestation born via elective cesarean section by gestational age.

Methods :

This is a retrospective study of 443 infants who were born at Seoul National University Hospital by elective cesarean section beyond 35 weeks of gestation from January 2011 to December 2012. We compared respiratory morbidities in four groups classified by gestational age (35+0-36+6 weeks, 37+0-37+6 weeks, 38+0-38+6 weeks, 39+0-40+6 weeks).

Results :

There were significantly lower Apgar scores in the late-preterm infant group (35-36 weeks) compared to other term infant groups and the proportion of infants born from mothers with preeclampsia gradually decreased as gestational age increased. There were significant differences in O2 supplement, duration of O2 (>24 hours), checked chest radiography, transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN), transfer to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), endotracheal intubation, and ventilator uses including nasal continuous positive airway pressure in four groups (P<0.05). By logistic regression analysis, compared to births at 38 weeks, births at 35-36 weeks and at 37 weeks were associated with an increased risk of respiratory morbidities [odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for births at 35-36 weeks, 122.5 (17.4-863.4) for TTN; 54.0 (10.1-289.4) for transfer to NICU; 99.5 (14.9-666.2) for ventilator apply; OR and 95% CI for births at 37 weeks, 8.8 (1.6-50.1) for TTN; 5.3 (1.1-24.7) for transfer to NICU; 8.4 (1.5-47.7) for ventilator apply; P<0.05]. There were no significant differences in respiratory morbidities between births at 38 weeks and births at 39-40 weeks.

Conclusion :

Postponing the timing of elective cesarean section to beyond 38 weeks of gestation would be helpful in reducing the neonatal respiratory morbidities.

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Fig. 1
History of previous cesarean section, fetal malpresentation, placenta previa, history of previous uterine surgery, and maternal request were the major causes of elective cesarean section. The most frequent cause of elective cesarean section was history of previous cesarean section. Abbreviation : C/S, cesarean section.
kjp-24-290f1.tif
Fig. 2
The proportions of respiratory morbidities in infants delivered by elective cesarean section decreased as gestational age increased. Abbreviations : NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; TTN, transient tachypnea of newborn.
kjp-24-290f2.tif
Table 1.
Demographic Characteristics of Infants with Elective Cesarean Section
  35-36 weeks (N=19) 37 weeks (N=74) 38 weeks (N=282) 39-40 weeks (N=68) P-value
Infants          
  Gestational age (week) 36.2±0.6 37.6±0.3∗ 38.5±0.3∗ 39.3±0.3∗†,‡ 0.000
  Birth weight (g) 2,550.0±482.8 3,011.5±431.2∗ 3,205.2±362.6∗ 3421.9±421.1∗†,‡ 0.000
  Male sex 9 (47.4%) 38 (51.4%) 140 (49.6%) 39 (57.4%) 0.703
  Small for gestational age 3 (15.8%) 8 (10.8%) 15 (5.3%) 5 (7.4%) 0.162
  Apgar score, 1 min 7.0±1.2 7.8±0.8∗ 7.9±0.7∗ 8.0±0.6∗ 0.000
  Apgar score, 5 min 8.3±1.0 8.9±0.4∗ 9.0±0.3∗ 9.0±0.3∗ 0.000
Mothers          
  Maternal age (year) 33.8±6.3 33.7±3.2 34.1±4.0 34.0±4.3 0.852
  Primipara 7 (36.8%) 20 (27.0%) 106 (37.6%) 23 (33.8%) 0.399
  Number of previous C/S 0.58±0.61 0.65±0.69 0.68±0.74 0.69±0.63 0.911
  Mode of anesthesia          
  Spinal 14 (73.7%) 52 (70.3%) 235 (83.3%) 61 (89.7%) 0.013
  Epidural 4 (21.1%) 8 (10.8%) 30 (10.6%) 6 (8.8%) 0.503
  General 1 (5.3%) 14 (18.9%) 17 (6.0%) 1 (1.5%) 0.000
Preeclampsia 7 (36.8%) 6 (8.1%)∗ 3 (1.1%)∗ 0 (0.0%)∗ 0.000
Gestational diabetes mellitus 2 (10.5%) 6 (8.1%) 22 (7.8%) 5 (7.4%) 0.975

All values are expressed as mean±standard deviation or numbers of individuals (%) ∗Statistically significant data compared to 35-36 weeks groups

Statistically significant data compared to 37 weeks group

Statistically significant data compared to 38 weeks group Abbreviation : C/S, cesarean section

Table 2.
Comparison of Respiratory Morbidity by Gestational Age
  35-36 weeks (N=19) 37 weeks (N=74) 38 weeks (N=282) 39-40 weeks (N=68) P-value
O2 supplement 10 (52.6%) 17 (23.0%)∗ 45 (16.0%)∗ 9 (13.2%)∗ 0.000
Duration of O2 (>24 hours) 7 (36.8%) 4 (5.4%)∗ 3 (1.1%)∗ 1 (1.5%)∗ 0.000
Checked chest radiography 11 (57.9%) 11 (14.9%)∗ 18 (6.4%)∗ 6 (8.8%)∗ 0.000
TTN 7 (36.8%) 4 (5.4%)∗ 2 (0.7%)∗ 0 (0.0%)∗ 0.000
Transfer to NICU 7 (36.8%) 4 (5.4%)∗ 3 (1.1%)∗ 0 (0.0%)∗ 0.000
Endotracheal intubation 4 (21.1%) 3 (4.1%)∗ 0 (0.0%)∗ 0 (0.0%)∗ 0.000
Ventilator (including nasal CPAP) 7 (36.8%) 4 (5.4%)∗ 2 (0.7%)∗ 0 (0.0%)∗ 0.000
At admission          
Respiratory symptom 11 (57.9%) 19 (25.7%)∗ 79 (28.0%)∗ 10 (14.7%)∗ 0.002
Chest retraction 9 (47.4%) 10 (13.5%)∗ 29 (10.3%)∗ 5 (7.4%)∗ 0.000
Nasal flaring 8 (42.1%) 17 (23.0%)∗ 66 (23.4%) 8 (11.8%)∗ 0.031
Moaning sound 7 (36.8%) 12 (16.2%)∗ 16 (5.7%)∗ 1 (1.5%)∗ 0.000
5 hours after birth          
Respiratory symptom 7 (36.8%) 6 (8.1%)∗ 8 (2.8%)∗ 1 (1.5%)∗ 0.000
Chest retraction 7 (36.8%) 4 (5.4%)∗ 6 (2.1%)∗ 1 (1.5%)∗ 0.000
Nasal flaring 4 (21.1%) 3 (4.1%)∗ 6 (2.1%)∗ 0 (0.0%)∗ 0.000
Moaning sound 4 (21.1%) 4 (5.4%)∗ 2 (0.7%)∗ 0 (0.0%)∗ 0.000

All values are expressed as numbers of individuals(%) ∗Statistically significant data compared to 35-36 weeks groups

Statistically significant data compared to 37 weeks group

Statistically significant data compared to 38 weeks group

Respiratory symptom is defined as a composite measure of chest retraction, nasal flaring and moaning sound. Abbreviations : TTN, transient tachypnea of newborn; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure

Table 3.
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis of Respiratory Morbidity by Gestational Age
  Odds ratio∗ (95% Confidence interval)
35-36 weeks (N=19) 37 weeks (N=74) 38 weeks (N=282) 39-40 weeks (N=68)
O2 supplement 8.3 (2.3-29.5) 2.1 (0.8-5.2) 1.3 (0.6-2.9) Reference
Duration of O2 (>24 hours) 49.7 (4.7-522.8) 4.1 (0.4-37.9) 0.7 (0.1-7.3) Reference
Checked chest radiography 19.6 (4.8-79.7) 2.0 (0.7-5.7) 0.7 (0.3-1.9) Reference
TTN 122.5 (17.4-863.4) 8.8 (1.6-50.1) Reference NA
Transfer to NICU 54.0 (10.1-289.4) 5.3 (1.1-24.7) Reference NA
Endotracheal intubation 9.9 (1.5-65.4) Reference NA NA
Ventilator (including nasal CPAP) 99.5 (14.9-666.2) 8.4 (1.5-47.7) Reference NA
At admission        
  Respiratory symptom 7.8 (2.3-26.6) 2.0 (0.9-4.9) 2.4 (1.2-5.0) Reference
  Chest retraction 10.9 (2.7-44.4) 1.9 (0.6-6.1) 1.6 (0.6-4.4) Reference
  Nasal flaring 4.4 (1.2-16.0) 2.2 (0.9-5.6) 2.4 (1.1-5.3) Reference
  Moaning sound 63.7 (6.3-641.5) 16.1 (2.0-129.9) 4.5 (0.6-34.6) Reference
5hours after birth        
  Respiratory symptom 92.6 (8.0-1063.1) 7.4 (0.8-64.9) 2.0 (0.2-16.7) Reference
  Chest retraction 86.3 (7.4-1007.8) 4.7 (0.5-44.2) 1.5 (0.2-12.7) Reference
  Nasal flaring 14.6 (2.1-98.7) 2.1 (0.5-9.2) Reference NA
  Moaning sound 98.8 (9.7-1004.0) 10.3 (1.8-59.8) Reference NA

∗Odds ratios are adjusted for sex, small for gestational age, maternal age, number of previous cesarean section, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus

NA, odds ratios not available due to low incidence

Respiratory symptom is defined as a composite measure of chest retraction, nasal flaring and moaning sound Abbreviations : TTN, transient tachypnea of newborn; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure

Table 4.
Comparison of Respiratory Morbidity between 38 Weeks and 39-40 Weeks of Gestational Age
  38 weeks (N=282) 39-40 weeks (N=68) P-value
TTN 2 (0.7%) 0 (0.0%) 0.486
Transfer to NICU 3 (1.1%) 0 (0.0%) 0.393
Ventilator (including nasal CPAP) 2 (0.7%) 0 (0.0%) 0.486

All values are expressed as numbers of individuals (%). Abbreviations : TTN, transient tachypnea of newborn; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure

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