EVALUATION OF AXILLARY TEMPERATURE OF NEWBORN INFANTS ADMITTED TO THE NEONATAL UNIT OF A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN WESTERN SÃO PAULO

Abstract

Temperature-related disorders in newborns (NBs) are a cause of morbidity and mortality in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). NBs have a limited ability to maintain homeostasis. Hypothermia can cause irreversible lung and brain damage. Given these consequences, it is important to assess the prevalence of the condition in NBs admitted to the NICU and related factors, in order to improve neonatal care. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of hypothermia in NBs admitted to the NICU, associated factors, temperature three hours after admission, and the temporal relationship with admission to the unit and achievement of normotemia. This retrospective cohort study was conducted through the analysis of medical records of NBs admitted to the NICU in 2022 and 2023. (Gestational age, birth weight, Apgar, performance of resuscitation maneuvers, temperature upon admission to the NICU and three hours). These were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis with mean and absolute and relative frequency of the variables. Of the 209 newborn records analyzed, 178 (85.17%) did not arrive at the NICU with adequate body temperature (≥ 36.5°C). Of the 178, 56 (31.46%) required resuscitation maneuvers in the delivery room. After 3 hours of admission, 55 newborns (26.32%) did not reach a temperature of ≥ 36.5°C. Of these, 34 (61.82%) were premature infants with gestational age <= 1 to 34 weeks, among them, 33 (97.06%) weighing <= 2.5 kg. This finding is relevant, since neonatal hypothermia is associated with complications. Furthermore, the fact that 31.46% of the newborns required resuscitation maneuvers suggests a correlation between hypothermia and the clinical severity of the newborns. After three hours of the newborns in the NICU, 55 did not reach the ideal temperature, suggesting that the heating measures implemented may not have been effective. Of these, 61.82% were preterm with gestational age <= 34 weeks and 97.06% of these weighed <= 2.5 kg. Confirming that premature and low-weight newborns are part of a risk group for hypothermia. There was a prevalence of 85.17% of newborns who did not reach a body temperature of 36.5 upon arrival at the NICU. 31.46% of these required resuscitation maneuvers in the delivery room. After three hours of admission, 26.32% did not reach a temperature of >= 36.5. The majority were preterm infants with a gestational age <= 34 weeks and a weight <= 2.5 kg.

Therefore, this study highlights the critical importance of monitoring and managing body temperature in newborns, especially in preterm and low-weight infants. As well as the need for improvements in warming and thermal stabilization protocols. Implementing effective measures to ensure normothermia is essential to reduce the need for resuscitation interventions and improve neonatal outcomes.