Impact of umbilical cord arterial pH, gestational age, and birth weight on neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm neonates
Roksana Malak,
Dorota Sikorska,
Marta Rosołek,
Ewa Baum,
Ewa Mojs,
Przemysław Daroszewski,
Monika Matecka,
Brittany Fechner,
Włodzimierz Samborski
Affiliations
Roksana Malak
Department and Clinic of Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Science, Poznań, Poland, Poznań, Wielkopolskie, Great Poland, Polska
Dorota Sikorska
Department and Clinic of Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Science, Poznan, Polska
Marta Rosołek
Department of Physiotherapy, Poznan University of Medical Science, Poznań, Poland, Poznan University of Medical Science, Poznan, Polska
Ewa Baum
Department of Social Sciences and the Humanities Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Polska
Ewa Mojs
Department of Clinical Psychology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland, Poznan University of Medical Science, Poznan, Polska
Przemysław Daroszewski
Department of Organization and Management in Health Care, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Polska
Monika Matecka
Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Polska
Brittany Fechner
Department and Clinic of Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Science, Poznan, Polska
Włodzimierz Samborski
Department and Clinic of Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Science, Poznan, Polska
Background The aim of this study was to determine the impact of umbilical cord arterial pH, gestational age, and birth weight on neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm neonates. Methods We examined 112 neonates. Inclusion criteria were: Saturations greater than 88%, and heart rates between 100–205 beats per minute. Measurements We assessed several neurodevelopmental factors as part of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS), 4th edition, such as asymmetric tonic neck reflex (ATNR), motor maturity, response to sensory stimuli, habituation, and state regulation. Initial assessment parameters such as APGAR score and umbilical cord arterial pH were used to assess neonates. Results We found a strong correlation between the presence of the sucking reflex and umbilical cord arterial pH (r = 0.32; p = 0.018981). Umbilical cord arterial pH was also correlated with the presence of asymmetric tonic neck reflex (r = 0.27; p = 0.047124), cost of attention (r = 0.31; p = 0.025381) and general motor maturity (r = 0.34; p = 0.011741). Conclusions We found that the sucking reflex may be affected in infants with low umbilical cord arterial pH values. Practitioners and parents can use the NBAS to help determine neurodevelopmental factors and outcomes in preterm infants, possibly leading to safer and more effective feeding practices and interventions.
