Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Moderate Preterm Infants

Table 3

Clinical factors prior to diagnosis of NEC.

Characteristic	EPT (n=43)	MPT (n=99)	LPT/T (n=30)	P value
Hypotension in first 24 hrs after birth	9 (20.9%)	4 (4%)	0	0.0005
Exclusive breast milk	2 (4.6%)	1(1%)	2 (6.6%)	NS
Mixed Diet (formula and breast milk)	32 (74.4%)	76 (76.8%)	16 (53.4%)	0.04
Exclusive formula diet	9 (21%)	23 (23%)	12 (40%)	NS
Antibiotic days prior to NEC	7.7±4.5	4.9±3.5	5.8±3.5	0.002
Hematocrit at diagnosis (%)	33.5±5.6	34.5±6.3	41.8±10.4	0.005
Transfusion in the 48hrs prior to diagnosis	11 (25.6%)	12 (12.1%)	0%	0.02
Congenital Gastrointestinal abnormalities†	0	7 (7%)	6 (20%)	0.006
Genetic/congenital non GI abnormalities‡	0	5 (5%)	3 (10%)	0.13

† Congenital GI anomalies included gastroschisis (4), Hirschsprung’s disease, imperforate anus, jejunal atresia and Meckels diverticulum. ‡ Genetic/non GI abnormalities included Trisomy 13, Trisomy 21, congenital myopathy, meningomyelocele and 17q21 deletion.