Risk factors for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in northeast thailand: a hospital-based case-control study

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a dangerous complication. If it is not primarily evaluated and timely cared for, neonatal death can occur. Knowing the risk factors for RDS can reduce perinatal mortality. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for RDS in 6, 209 newborns born from 1 January to 31 December 2015 at the Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital, a tertiary hospital located in Ubon Ratchathani, northeast Thailand. This hospital-based case-control study was conducted. Two hundred eighty-five newborns with RDS were matched with a non-RDS control from the same delivery registry cohort on the birth time and birth month. Researchers collected the data of mothers and infants from the inpatient registry. The odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a conditional logistic regression to assess the associations between potential risk factors and risk of RDS. Risk factors for RDS were mothers did not receive antenatal care covering five times (Adjusted OR=1.61; 95% CI: 1.01-2.29), gestational age was less than 37 weeks (Adjusted OR=1. 8 8; 95 % CI: 1.14-3.06), mode of delivery was a cesarean section (Adjusted OR=24. 50; 95% CI: 14.83-40.47), delivery was operated after office hours (Adjusted OR=1.60; 95% CI: 1.01-2.52), male newborns (Adjusted OR=2.43; 95% CI: 1.53-3.87), and average birth weight was more than 3,500 grams (Adjusted OR=3.66; 95% CI: 1.42-9.40). Both maternal and infant factors were the risk factors for RDS. Therefore, it is necessary to use knowledge to develop surveillance, disease prediction, and care plans for both mothers and infants.