Factors associated with abnormal hearing screen in critically ill newborns: a descriptive study

Abstract

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND. In Mexico, neonatal hearing loss occurs in 6-10% of newborns in the NICU. It is important to know the factors associated with neonatal hearing loss in order to identify them and give a closer follow-up to high risk patients.

OBJECTIVE. To know the factors associated with an abnormal hearing screen in critically ill newborns admitted to the NICU.

MATERIAL AND METHODS. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional, single-center study. We included newborns between 24-42 SDG admitted to the NICU who underwent a hearing screening within the first 72 hours of admission. We used Mann-Whitney U tests and Pearson's chi-square tests to compare the characteristics of the groups with abnormal and normal hearing screening. We used 2x2 tables, with odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals to obtain the factors associated with abnormal hearing screening. All tests were bivariate. A value of p=0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS. We included 110 critically ill newborns. The prevalence of abnormal hearing screening was 20.9%. The factors associated with abnormal neonatal screening were: neonatal seizures (OR=13, 95% CI, 4.5-37.6), weight ≥2.2kg (OR= 0.77, 95% CI, 0.68-0.87) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR= 12.9, CI95%, 1.3-130.6).

CONCLUSIONS. It is important to know the factors associated with neonatal hearing loss in order to identify patients who would benefit from a closer follow-up even if the initial hearing screening is classified as "normal"