Risk factors associated with mortality in infants weighing less than 1500 g using the CRIB II scale

Background. Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) II score as well as other scoring systems was developed during the last decade in neonatal intensive care units in order to predict morbidity and mortality risk. Today, risk-adjusted severity of illness is frequently used in clinical research and quality assessments. The objective was to evaluate the clinical risk index in very low birth weight newborns with the CRIB II score in a tertiary hospital during 2007-2009. Methods. We performed a case-control study in 52 patients who died (cases) and 52 survivors (controls). Descriptive statistical analysis was performed by obtaining mean and standard deviation. We also performed odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and ROC curves in order to obtain cutoff points for sensitivity and specificity. Results. Mean gestational age was 28.5 weeks. Average weight was 865 g. Factors associated with increased risk of mortality were male gender, low Apgar score, temperature <36oC, intraventricular hemorrhage and high frequency ventilation. The most frequent cause of mortality (90%) was extreme prematurity. Intraventricular hemorrhage was the most common direct cause (40.3%) followed by septic shock (19.2%), air leak (11.5%), hyaline membrane disease (9.6%) pulmonary hemorrhage (9.6%) and enterocolitis (3.8%). Conclusions. The CRIB II SCALE is a useful tool for predicting neonatal mortality.