Child Health Nurs Res.  2020 Jul;26(3):348-356. 10.4094/chnr.2020.26.3.348.

Correlations between the Status of the Umbilical Cord and Neonatal Health Status

• Lee SM
• Kim DY
• Cho S
• Noh SM
• Park HL
• Lee G

• KMID: 2504908
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4094/chnr.2020.26.3.348

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify correlations between the status of the umbilical cord and neonatal health status.
Methods
In total, 172 newborns were enrolled who were admitted to the newborn nursery with a gestational age of 35 weeks or older and a body weight of 2 kg or above. Data were collected on the basic personal information of the newborns, the diameter and soft tissue status of the umbilical cord, and neonatal health status after birth. Analyses were performed using t-test, analysis of variance, x² test, and Fisher exact test.
Results
Umbilical cord diameter exhibited a statistically significant difference by sex (t=2.71, p=.007). A thin umbilical cord diameter was associated with a 1-minute Apgar score less than 8 points (t=2.47, p=.015) and with being transferred to the intensive care unit (t=2.45, p=.015). Poor soft tissue status of the umbilical cord was associated with a 1-minute Apgar score of less than 8 points (x²=16.68, p<.001) and with oxygen being supplied (x²=4.81, p=.028).
Conclusion
Assessing the umbilical cord diameter and status in newborns is an important tool for evaluating neonatal health status after birth, and this point also underscores the importance of professionals' careful observations in the newborn nursery.

Keyword

Umbilical cord; Infant, newborn; Health status