Neonatal Outcomes of Severe Preeclampsia in Neonates Under 34 Weeks of Gestation

Background: Preterm birth is one of the common complications of preeclampsia. Neonatal outcomes seem to be more severe in the presence of preeclampsia in women with preterm birth. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of preeclampsia on morbidity and mortality of neonates under 34 weeks of gestation at discharge. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 311 neonates admitted to the Alzahra Tertiary Care Hospital from 2019 to 2021. Data were collected using a data extraction checklist from the medical registry. The data analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact test. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the neonatal outcomes of preeclampsia. Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that risk of cesarean section (P = 0.002, OR = 2.81), low birth weight (P = 0.018, OR = 4.04), fetal growth restriction (< 0.001, OR = 3.73), fetal distress (P = 0.005, OR = 2.60), and mortality (P = 0.019, OR = 2.89) was higher in women with severe preeclampsia after adjusting for maternal age, history of In vitro fertilization, neonate sex, and gestational age. Conclusions: Based on the results, preeclampsia increased the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality in preterm neonates under 34 weeks. Therefore, early identification of pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia is crucial. Future studies are recommended to investigate the long-term neonatal outcomes of preeclampsia.