Abstract:Objective: To investigate the risk factors of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI). Methods: A retrospective study of VLBWI admitted to the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2011 to October 2019 was conducted. Infants were assigned into two groups: NEC group (Bell stage≥Ⅱ) and non-NEC group. The data were measured with the Student's t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, chi-square or the Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors associated with NEC. Results: Of 497 VLBWI enrolled, 30 infants developed NEC. There were no significant differences in gender, gestational age, birth weight, and admitted age between the two groups. Higher incidences of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) (P=0.025), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (P=0.015), atrial septal defect (P=0.014), cardiac dysfunction (P=0.041), renal dysfunction (P=0.012), liver dysfunction (P=0.003), hypoalbuminemia (P=0.002), electrolyte disorder (P=0.041), and sepsis (P=0.000) were found in infants with NEC compared with those without NEC. Logistic regression analysis revealed sepsis (OR=13.24, 95%CI=4.04-43.36, P=0.000), hypoalbuminemia (OR=4.22, 95%CI=1.14-15.58, P=0.031), IUGR (OR=3.46, 95%CI=1.18-10.14, P=0.024) and IVF-ET (OR=4.85, 95%CI=1.50-15.68, P=0.008) were the risk factors of VLBWI with NEC. Conclusion: We should keep an eye on sepsis, hypoalbuminemia, IUGR and in IVF-ET among VLBWI, which are the risk factors of NEC.
