Simplified Age-Weight Mortality Risk Classification for Very Low Birth Weight Infants in Low-Resource Settings

Rebecca E. Rosenberg, Saifuddin Ahmed, Samir K. Saha, A. S.M.Nawshad U. Ahmed, M. A.K.Azad Chowdhury, Paul A. Law, Yoonjoung Choi, Luke C. Mullany, James M. Tielsch, Joanne Katz, Robert E. Black, Mathuram Santosham, Gary L. Darmstadt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To identify a valid neonatal mortality risk prediction score feasible for use in developing countries. Study design: Retrospective study of 467 neonates, ≤1500 g, enrolled in trials during 1998 to 2005 at tertiary care children's hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Cairo, Egypt, and a community field site in Sarlahi District, Nepal. We derived simplified mortality risk scores and compared their predictive accuracy with the modified Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) II. Outcome was death during hospital stay (Dhaka and Cairo) or end of the neonatal period (Nepal). Results: The area under the curve receiver operating characteristic was 0.62, 0.71, 0.68, and 0.69 on the basis of the (a) CRIB II applied to the Dhaka-Cairo dataset; (b) an 18-category, simplified age, weight, sex score; (c) a binary-risk simplified age-weight (SAW) classification derived from the Dhaka-Cairo dataset; and (d) external validation of the binary-risk SAW classification in the Nepal dataset, respectively. Mortality risk prediction with the SAW classification on the basis of gestational age (≤29 weeks) or weight (<1000 g) was improved (P = .048) compared with CRIB II. Conclusions: The SAW classification is a markedly simplified mortality risk prediction score for use in identifying high-risk, very low birth weight neonates in developing country settings for whom urgent referral is indicated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)519-524.e3
JournalJournal of Pediatrics
Volume153
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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