Calcium status of perinatal asphyxiated newborn babies

Abstract

Background: Birth asphyxia is one of the major neonatal problems in Bangladesh. It is a common cause of neonatal hospital admission. Objective: To evaluate calcium status in birth asphyxiated babies of different grading of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy admitted into pediatrics department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among birth asphyxiated babies admitted in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Total 266 neonates, 133 asphyxiated and 133 healthy neonates were selected as cases and controls by inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected by data collection sheet through interview of the mothers, pathological reports and patients' treatment files and attending doctors if needed. Data were analyzed in computer by using SPSS version 18. Chisquare and One Way ANOVA test were applied. Results: Out of 133 asphyxiated neonates mean serum calcium values in mild, moderate, severe asphyxia were 8.37±1.51, 8.47±1.37 and 8.03±1.14 respectively. Among the cases 20(15.0%) neonates had hypocalcaemia. Among these hypocalcaemic babies 6(25.0%) had mild, 9(45.0%) had moderate, and 5(25.0%) had severe perinatal asphyxia respectively. Hypocalcaemic neonates were only 6(4.5%) in controls. There was no association found between the grading of asphyxia and serum calcium level. But the incidence of hypocalcaemia in asphyxiated neonates was significantly (p<0.005) higher than that of controls, Conclusion: A provision of serial measurement of serum electrolyte especially calcium for perinatal asphyxiated neonates should be made available.