Child Health Nurs Res.  2017 Oct;23(4):505-514. 10.4094/chnr.2017.23.4.505.

Hypothermia and Related Factors in High-Risk Infants

• Ahn Y
• Sohn M
• Kim N
• Kang N
• Kang S
• Jung E

• KMID: 2394636
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4094/chnr.2017.23.4.505

Abstract

PURPOSE
Maintaining body temperature is a key vital function of human beings, but little is known about how body temperature of high-risk infants is sustained during early life after birth. The aim of this study was to describe hypothermia in high-risk infants during their first week of life and examine demographic, environmental, and clinical attributors of hypothermia.
METHODS
A retrospective longitudinal study was done from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015. Medical records of 570 high-risk infants hospitalized at Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) of a university affiliated hospital were examined. Body temperature and related factors were assessed for seven days after birth.
RESULTS
A total of 336 events of hypothermia (212 mild and 124 moderate) occurred in 280 neonates (49.1%) and most events (84.5%) occurred within 24 hours after birth. Logistic regression analysis revealed that phototherapy (aOR=0.28, 95% CI=0.10-0.78), Apgar score at 5 minute (aOR=2.20, 95% CI=1.17-4.12), and intra-uterine growth retardation or small for gestational age (aOR=3.58, 95% CI=1.69-7.58) were statistically significant contributors to hypothermia.
CONCLUSION
Findings indicate that high-risk infants are at risk for hypothermia even when in the NICU. More advanced nursing interventions are necessary to prevent hypothermia of high-risk infants.

Keyword

Hypothermia; Newborns; Neonatal intensive care units

MeSH Terms

Apgar Score
Body Temperature
Gestational Age
Humans
Hypothermia*
Infant*
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Logistic Models
Longitudinal Studies
Medical Records
Nursing
Parturition
Phototherapy
Retrospective Studies