Dissertation committee:
Μπούτσικου Θεοδώρα, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπουσα
Ιακωβίδου Μ. Νικολέττα, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Σιαχανίδου Σουλτάνα, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Πανουλής Κωνσταντίνος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Μπακοπούλου Φλώρα: Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Κόσσυβα Λυδία, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ηλιοδρομίτη Ζωή, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS) is frequently associated with premature birth (≤37 weeks), but it can also affect term neonates (≥37 weeks). In contrary to pre-term neonates, the risk factors associated with NRDS in term neonates have not been studied extensively. The aim of this study is to examine the association of maternal and neonatal clinical parameters with the incidence and severity of NRDS in term and pre-term neonates admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Makarios hospital, the only pediatric tertiary referral center in Cyprus. In Cyprus, during 2017-2018, among the neonates admitted to the NIC, 8.1% were diagnosed with NRDS in 2017 and 8.8% in 2018. The study analysis reveals the incidence of NRDS have significant associations with male gender full-term newborns in comparison to female gender full-term newborns. In addition, RDS was also statistically significant more common in full-term newborns born with elective cesarean section. Furthermore, regarding the 350 pre-term neonates that participated in the study, the incidence of RDS is higher in neonates less than 32 weeks' gestational age, pre-term neonates from multiple pregnancies and pre-term neonates from mothers with an increased Body Mass Index. Similarly, pulmonary surfactant was administered more often to pre-term neonates who required resuscitation in the delivery room and to preterm neonates less than 32 weeks' gestational age.
