Risk Factors for Neonatal Seizures in Very Low Birthweight Infants: Population-Based Survey

The developing brain has an increased susceptibility to seizure activity, and neonatal seizures can adversely affect neurodevelopmental outcome. This study aimed to determine the incidence of neonatal seizures in very low birthweight infants and to identify perinatal and postnatal factors associated with the occurrence of clinical seizures. A population-based cohort of 6525 very low birthweight infants born from 1995 through 1999 comprised the study group. Maternal, perinatal, or postnatal variables that showed a significant association with neonatal seizures in a univariate analysis were tested by a multiple logistic regression to assess the independent effect of each variable on the risk of seizures. The overall incidence of seizures was 5.6%. Significant independent predictors of neonatal seizures were decreasing gestational age, male gender, respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary air leak (pneumothorax and pulmonary interstitial emphysema), intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, patent ductus arteriosus, surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, and surgical treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis. Neonatal seizures appear to be associated with major morbidities and surgical interventions in very low birthweight infants. Continuous electroencephalographic monitoring could be warranted in infants following surgical treatment.