Low and very low birth weight in puppies: definitions, risk factors and survival in a large-scale population

Abstract Background Neonatal mortality (over the first three weeks of life) is a major concern in canine breeding facilities as an economic and welfare issue. Since low birth weight (LBW) dramatically increases the risk of neonatal death, the risk factors of occurrence need to be identified together with the chances and determinants of survival of newborns at-risk. Results Data from 4971 puppies from 10 breeds were analysed. Two birth weight thresholds regarding the risk of neonatal mortality were identified by breed, using respectively Receiver Operating Characteristics and Classification and Regression Tree method. Puppies were qualified as LBW and very low birth weight (VLBW) when their birth weight value was respectively between the two thresholds and lower than the two thresholds. Mortality rates were 4.2, 8.8 and 55.3%, in the normal, LBW and VLBW groups, accounting for 48.7, 47.9 and 3.4% of the included puppies, respectively. A separate binary logistic regression approach allowed to identify breed, gender and litter size as determinants of LBW. The increase in litter size and being a female were associated with a higher risk for LBW. Survival for LBW puppies was reduced in litters with at least one stillborn, compared to litters with no stillborn, and was also reduced when the dam was more than 6 years old. Concerning VLBW puppies, occurrence and survival were influenced by litter size. Surprisingly, the decrease in litter size was a risk factor for VLBW and also reduced their survival. The results of this study suggest that VLBW and LBW puppies are two distinct populations. Moreover, it indicates that events and factors affecting intrauterine growth (leading to birth weight reduction) also affect their ability to adapt to extrauterine life. Conclusion These findings could help veterinarians and breeders to improve the management of their facility and more specifically of LBW puppies. Possible recommendations would be to only select for reproduction dams of optimal age and to pay particular attention to LBW puppies born in small litters. Further studies are required to understand the origin of LBW in dogs.

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Geospatial analysis of determinants of neonatal mortality in Ghana

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10473-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Duah Dwomoh

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Neonatal Mortality ◽

Neonatal Death ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Multiple Births ◽

Demographic And Health Surveys ◽

Neonatal Deaths ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Ghana did not meet the Millennium Development Goal 4 of reducing child mortality by two-thirds and may not meet SDG (2030). There is a need to direct scarce resources to mitigate the impact of the most important risk factors influencing high neonatal deaths. This study applied both spatial and non-spatial regression models to explore the differential impact of environmental, maternal, and child associated risk factors on neonatal deaths in Ghana. Methods The study relied on data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS) and the Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) conducted between 1998 and 2017 among 49,908 women of reproductive age and 31,367 children under five (GDHS-1998 = 3298, GDHS-2003 = 3844, GDHS-2008 = 2992, GDHS-2014 = 5884, GMHS-2017 = 15,349). Spatial Autoregressive Models that account for spatial autocorrelation in the data at the cluster-level and non-spatial statistical models with appropriate sampling weight adjustment were used to study factors associated with neonatal deaths, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Population density, multiple births, smaller household sizes, high parity, and low birth weight significantly increased the risk of neonatal deaths over the years. Among mothers who had multiple births, the risk of having neonatal deaths was approximately four times as high as the risk of neonatal deaths among mothers who had only single birth [aRR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.63–7.17, p < 0.05]. Neonates who were perceived by their mothers to be small were at a higher risk of neonatal death compared to very large neonates [aRR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.19–3.63, p < 0.05]. A unit increase in the number of children born to a woman of reproductive age was associated with a 49% increased risk in neonatal deaths [aRR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.30–1.69, p < 0.05]. Conclusion Neonatal mortality in Ghana remains relatively high, and the factors that predisposed children to neonatal death were birth size that were perceived to be small, low birth weight, higher parity, and multiple births. Improving pregnant women’s nutritional patterns and providing special support to women who have multiple deliveries will reduce neonatal mortality in Ghana.

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Leminorella sepsis in very low birth weight neonate as cause of neonatal mortality

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine ◽

10.1080/14767058.2016.1199678 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (9) ◽

pp. 1057-1059 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Deepak Sharma ◽

Ankur Patel ◽

Priyanka Soni ◽

Sweta Shastri ◽

Ravinder Singh

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Neonatal Mortality ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Birth Weight Neonate

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Persistent candidemia in very low birth weight neonates: risk factors and clinical significance

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-018-3487-9 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jinjian Fu ◽

Yanling Ding ◽

Yongjiang Jiang ◽

Shengfu Mo ◽

Shaolin Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Clinical Significance ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Persistent Candidemia

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Frequency and risk factors in bronchopulmonary dysplasia in a cohort of very low birth weight infants

Early Human Development ◽

10.1016/s0378-3782(98)00101-7 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 54 (3) ◽

pp. 245-258 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

P Korhonen ◽

O Tammela ◽

A.-M Koivisto ◽

P Laippala ◽

S Ikonen

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight Infants

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Clinical profile and factors determining outcome of intramural very low birth weight babies in a tertiary care centre: a retrospective study

International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences ◽

10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20170143 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 520

Author(s):

Devi Meenakshi K. ◽

Arasar Seeralar A. T. ◽

Srinivasan Padmanaban

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

P Value ◽

Increased Risk

Background: Very low birth weight (VLBW) babies are at increased risk of a number of complications both immediate and late. Worldwide it has been observed that these babies contribute to a significant extent to neonatal mortality and morbidity. Aim of the study was to study the risk factors contributing to mortality in VLBW babies and to evaluate the morbidity pattern in these infants.Methods: A retrospective analysis of data retrieved from the case records of VLBW babies admitted in the NICU of Kilpauk Medical College between January 2015 to December 2015. Out of the 2360 intramural babies admitted during the study period, 99 babies were less than 1500 gms. The risk factors for these babies were analyzed for their association with the outcome. Data were statistically analyzed.Results: In present study, we found that sex of the baby, gestational age, obstetric score, birth asphyxia, pulmonary haemorrhage, ROP and presence of shock were found to be associated with increased mortality. By logistic regression analysis it was observed that birth weight of the baby (p value 0.002), duration of stay (p value 0.0006), presence of shock (p<0.0001), were the risk factors significantly associated with poor outcome.Conclusions: Among the maternal and neonatal factors analyzed in the study using logistic regression analysis, birth weight, duration of hospital stay and presence of shock were significantly related to poor outcome. Of these presence of shock was the single most important factor that predicted increased mortality.

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Evaluation of the Incidence and Risk Factors of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Very Low birth Weight Infants

Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital Medical Journal ◽

10.14744/hnhj.2019.59244 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Selim Sancak

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Intracranial Hemorrhage ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight Infants

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Clinical profile and outcome of early onset sepsis in high risk very low birth weight neonates

International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ◽

10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20180480 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 389 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Omprakash S. Shukla ◽

Aditi Rawat

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Blood Culture ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Neonatal Sepsis ◽

Early Onset ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Early Onset Sepsis ◽

Culture Positive

Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity, especially in very low birth weight neonates (birth weight <1499 grams) despite the progress in hygiene, introduction of new and potent antimicrobial agents for treatment and advanced measures for diagnosis. The aim of the study was to find correlation of clinical features and risk factors of neonatal sepsis in culture positive cases.Methods: A cross- sectional study was carried out in one hundred neonates with risk factors of septicemia after obtaining informed consent. Blood culture was done using Bactec Peds Plus/F Culture as a gold standard to diagnose septicaemia. Correlation of risk factors, clinical features with laboratory findings was obtained by using chi-square test. p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant.Results: Out of 100 neonates with suspected sepsis, BACTEC culture proven sepsis was seen in 40% cases. Gram negative sepsis was seen in 62.5% cases. The most common bacteria for early onset sepsis were Klebsiella, Pseudomonas and MRSA contributing 17% each to the bacteriological profile. The most common predisposing factor and clinical feature in culture positive cases were Premature rupture of membrane >24 hours (67%) and bleeding/petechia/pupura (72%) respectively. The major cause of mortality was pulmonary hemorrhage.Conclusions: Gram negative organism were more common and associated with higher mortality. Blood culture positivity increases with increase in number of risk factors in neonatal septicemia. A detailed history and thorough clinical examination is vital for early recognition of sepsis.

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