Pediatrics & Neonatology
Volume 50, Issue 6 , Pages 261-265, December 2009

Risk Factor Analysis for Late-onset Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia in Taiwanese Infants

  • Mi-Shu Huang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Nursing department, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ming-Chih Lin

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Institute of Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Hsiu-Hsi Chen

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Kuo-Liong Chien

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chao-Huei Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 160, section 3, Chung-Kang Road, Taichung 407, Taiwan

Received 17 December 2007; received in revised form 23 December 2008; accepted 6 February 2009.

Article Outline

Background

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a recognized health risk for newborns. It can cause kernicterus and hearing impairment. Certain groups of infants who do not have significant jaundice during the first few days of life develop hyperbilirubinemia later. Because early discharge is a worldwide trend, prompt identification of this group of infants is of paramount importance in preventing complications.

Methods

The data used were derived from a medical center. A total of 523 term or near-term infants were enrolled in this study. All infants were scheduled for follow-up visits. In this study, late-onset neonatal hyperbilirubinemia was defined as a total bilirubin level greater than 15 mg/dL, or receiving phototherapy at 5-7 days. Newborns that had clinically significant jaundice within 96 hours of life were excluded from analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were applied for statistical analysis.

Results

One hundred and eighty infants were included for data analysis. Thirty-nine (21.7%) had late onset hyperbilirubinemia. Exclusive breast-feeding and less body weight loss during the 1st day of life were both significant risk factors for late onset hyperbilirubinemia. However, early discharge was not associated with late-onset hyperbilirubinemia.

Conclusion

Thirty-nine (21.7%) infants develop late hyperbilirubinemia at the age of one week. Exclusive breast-feeding and less body weight loss were significant risk factors. Follow-up visits are recommended for all infants, especially for those who have these risk factors.

Key Words:  late-onset hyperbilirubinemia , newborn

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PII: S1875-9572(09)60074-7

doi:10.1016/S1875-9572(09)60074-7

Pediatrics & Neonatology
Volume 50, Issue 6 , Pages 261-265, December 2009

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