Predictive factors of hyperbilirubinemia in newborns at University hospital in northern Iran

Abstract

Jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most frequent problems of neonatal period and involves about 60% of term and 80% of preterm neonates in the first week of birth. Hence, here we investigated the epidemiological, relevant factors and causes of neonatal jaundice in this study. . Data of 126 records of neonates who were hospitalized due to jaundice between January 1, 2011 and January 30, 2012 at the 17^th Shahrivar Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran were checked and evaluated. Data was gathered based on a questionnaire that had two parts: (i) demographic and (ii) causes and risk factors of jaundice. Data were analyzed by SPSS software ver.18 using descriptive tests, Student’s T, Chi-square and Linear Regression tests. There were 65 (51.6%) males and 61 (48.4%) females. Mean age of them was 6.98±4.32 days. One-Hundred one patients (80.1%) had pathologic jaundice; 107 neonates (84.9%) born term of which 106 (84.1%) were exclusive breastfed. There was significant correlation between gestational time (P=0.019), existence of Rh incompatibility (P=0.001) and ABO incompatibility (P=0.009) with mean of level of admitted bilirubin. Time of gestations (P=0.001), Birth weight (P=0.024), history of jaundice in siblings (p=0.001) and gestational age between 37 and 38^th week (P=0.003) were predictive factors for pathological hyperbilirubinemia in this study. Results of our study showed high frequency of pathological jaundice in hospitalized infants. Prognostic factors of this study can help in better screening of type of jaundice.