Abstract

Introduction: Management of extremely preterm infants under 28 weeks of gestation remains a challenge for neonatal care. This study was carried out to describe morbidity and mortality rates of extremely preterm infants and to investigate factors associated with mortality in this group. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted from admission to discharge or death on 102 extremely preterm infants under 28 weeks of gestation who were managed at the Neonatal Unit, Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children from May 1, 2020 to May 30, 2022. Result: The mean gestational age was 25.5 weeks with an average weight of 815.2 grams. Respiratory distress syndrome requiring surfactant occurred in 58.8%. Intraventricular haemorrahage grade III-IV occurred in 14.7% and necrotizing enterocolitis in 6.9%. The mortality rate was 49%, with 70% among infants < 26 weeks of gestation, and 28.8% in infants 26 - < 28 weeks of gestation. Gestational age, shock, and invasive mechanical ventilation were associated with mortality in extremely preterm neonates. Every 1 week increase in gestational age reduced the risk of death by 2.5 times. Shock and invasive mechanical ventilation increased the risk of death with Odds ratios being 17.7 and 49.9, respectively. Conclusion: Mortality and morbidity among extremely preterm neonates were high. Future interventions should focus on preventing complications and improving suboptimal care.