Neonatal Med.  2024 May;31(2):17-23. 10.5385/nm.2024.31.2.17.

Clinical Characteristics of Hypospadias and Its Association with Very Low Birth Weight Infants with Small for Gestational Age

• Kim SN
• Kim SH
• Kim C
• Kim H
• Hwang J
• Yang M
• Ahn SY
• Sung SI
• Chang YS
• Kim H

• KMID: 2556150
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5385/nm.2024.31.2.17

Abstract

Purpose
To investigate the risk factors associated with hypospadias in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (VLBWIs).
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 729 infants born at ≥24 weeks of gestational age and weighing <1,500 g from January 2012 to December 2022. We assessed the prevalence of hypospadias by birth weight percentiles and also compared the demographics and placental histopathology of the infants with hypospadias (n=52) and those without hypospadias (n=677).
Results
Of the 729 patients analysed, hypospadias was recorded in 26 (20.3%), 14 (26.9%), and 12 (2.5%) infants in the <3rd, ≥3rd–<10th, and ≥10th–<90th percentiles, respectively. Of all of the patients with hypospadias, 50% had birth weights <3rd percentile (p<0.001). The hypospadias group demonstrated a longer mean gestational age (30.1 weeks vs. 27.9 weeks, p<0.001), lower incidence of maternal pregnancy-induced hypertension (48.1% vs. 17.3%, p<0.001), lower incidence of premature rupture of membrane (11.5% vs. 27.1%, p=0.013), lower acute chorioamniotic maternal response (9.1% vs. 35.2%, p<0.001), and higher maternal underperfusion (95.5% vs. 71.9%, p<0.001).
Conclusion
The frequency of hypospadias was found to be the highest among VBLWIs <3rd percentile, who were severely small for their gestational age (SGA). Additionally, the incidence increased with a decreasing birth weight. Physical examination is necessary at birth for VLBWIs classified as SGA. Moreover, the data on the incidence of hypospadias among VLBWIs in neonatal intensive care units can assist in tracking counseling from the prenatal to the postnatal period for patients born <3rd percentile.

Keyword

Hypospadias; Infant; Infant, very low birth weight; Infant, small for gestational age

Figure

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  Figure 1. Flow diagram of study population. Abbreviation: GA, gestational age.

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  Figure 2. Incidence of hypospadias according to birth weight percentile in infants weighing less than 1,500 g.

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