Abstract

Background: Abnormal changes in blood hemoglobin (Hb) levels depend on maternal and neonatal factors, and could be an important indicator to evaluate the progression of neonatal diseases. This study aims to describe the hemoglobin concentration in ill neonates and to identify several factors associated with anemia and polycythemia status in newborns in early neonatal period. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive was conducted. A convenient sample included 169 ill neonates less than 7 day-old at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital from July 2021 to May 2022. Results: Mean gestational age in study group was 38.5 ± 2.2 weeks. The mean Hb concentration of study group was 180 ± 26.4 g/l. Prevalence of anemia and polycythemia were 18.9% and 6.5%, respectively. The mean Hb level in common diseases such as early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS), meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), ABO hemolytic disease of newborn (ABO HDN) was 181.7 ± 24.5 g/l, 164.5 ± 20.5g/l and 136.2 ± 18.5g/l, respectively. The incidence of anemia in EOS was 18.8%, in ABO HDN was 80.0%, in MAS was 33.3%. Factors significantly associated with neonatal anemia were ABO HDN (OR = 17.9, p < 0.05), maternal anemia (OR = 3.57, p < 0.05). Low birth weight neonates (< 2500 gram) increased the risk of polycythemia with OR = 3.94 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The abnormal changes of hemoglobin concentration appears in 25.4% of ill neonates. The hemoglobin level should be screened to evaluate the disease characteristics of neonates.