Factors Associated with Newborn Fatality due to Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension

 This study is designed to explore factors associated with death in newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN).

 The clinical data of PPHN cases in the past ten years from a neonatal center in China were retrospectively collected and analyzed, and the death-related factors attributable to PPHN were analyzed by binary stepwise logistic regression analysis.

 A total of 161 neonates with PPHN were included in this study, with a mortality rate of 18.0% (29/161). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis indicated that cesarean delivery was negatively associated with death in infants with PPHN (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.289, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.104 – 0.803), while premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (adjusted OR = 4.032, 95% CI 1.32 - 12.32), congenital lung developmental abnormalities/congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) (adjusted OR = 12.65, 95% CI 1.088 – 147.068), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (adjusted OR = 4.802, 95% CI 1.512 – 15.251), inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) (adjusted OR = 12.377, 95% CI 3.22 – 47.576) and norepinephrine (adjusted OR = 2.891, 95% CI 1.03 – 8.118) were the independent factors associated with a higher risk of death from PPHN.

 Caesarean delivery with medical indication is an independent protective factor against death in neonates with PPHN. PROM, congenital lung developmental abnormalities/CDH, RDS, iNO, and norepinephrine were independent death-related factors in neonates with PPHN.