Table 2.
Birth characteristics and neonatal outcomes of the newborns
| Delivery before 48 h n = 167 (49.5%) | Delivery after 48 h n = 170 (50.5%) |
p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gestational age at delivery (week) | 33 (3) | 32 (2.1) | 0.003b |
| Cesarean section | 84 (50.4%) | 112 (65.9%) | 0.004c |
| Birth weight (gram) | 1917 ± 592 | 1715 ± 605 | 0.002a |
| Apgar score at 1st minute | 7 (2) | 7 (3) | 0.075b |
| Apgar score at 5th minute | 9 (2) | 8 (2) | 0.069b |
| NICU admission | 120 (71.9%) | 140 (82.4%) | 0.022c |
| Umbilical cord pH | 7.30 (0.14) | 7.30 (0.14) | 0.739b |
| Transient tachypnea of the newborn | 36 (21.6%) | 63 (37.1%) | 0.002c |
| Neonatal sepsis | 20 (12.0%) | 18 (10.6%) | 0.687c |
| Fetal distress | 27 (16.2%) | 23 (13.5%) | 0.496c |
| Respiratory distress syndrome | 58 (34.7%) | 51 (30.0%) | 0.353c |
| Continues positive airway pressure | 72 (43.1%) | 95 (55.9%) | 0.019c |
| Mechanical ventilation | 56 (33.5%) | 61 (35.9%) | 0.651c |
| Phototherapy for neonates | 26 (15.6%) | 29 (17.1%) | 0.711c |
| Neonatal hypoglycemia | 15 (9.0%) | 11 (6.5%) | 0.388c |
| Interventricular hemorrhage | 0 (0%) | 5 (2.9%) | 0.061c |
| Necrotizing enterocolitis | 0 (0%) | 4 (2.4%) | 0.123c |
Data are expressed as mean ± SD or median (interquartile range) where appropriate. A p value of < 0.05 indicates a significant difference and statistically significant p values are in bold
NICU neonatal intensive care unit
aStudent T-test
bMann–Whitney U test
cPearson Chi-square test