OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of hypothermia on admission and at 24 h of life in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) and associated morbidity and mortality. STUDY DESIGN Hospital records of VLBWI admitted to a neonatal unit were reviewed for information on patient's body temperature, clinical characteristics and mortality. Comparisons between normothermic and hypothermic VLBWI were performed. RESULTS Mean gestational age and birth weight of enrolled infants were 29 ± 3 weeks and 1140 ± 253 g, respectively. Prevalence of admission hypothermia was 46.1%, with 38% developing hypothermia within 24-h following admission. VLBWI with hypothermia were more likely to have been born vaginally [aOR 2.85 (1.37-5.91)], have a birth weight < 1000 g [aOR 2.28 (1.25-4.16)], required resuscitation at birth [aOR 2.20 (1.23-3.94)], develop metabolic acidosis [aOR 3.04 (1.35-6.84)] and die within the first week of life [aOR 4.79 (1.43-16.02)]. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of hypothermia in VLBWI is high and is associated with poor outcomes.

中文翻译：

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南非一家三级医院的新生儿科收治的新生儿体温过低。

目的确定极低出生体重婴儿（VLBWI）入院时和出生后24小时体温过低的发生率以及相关的发病率和死亡率。研究设计回顾了新生儿科住院的VLBWI医院记录，以了解患者体温，临床特征和死亡率的信息。比较了常温和低温VLBWI。结果入组婴儿的平均胎龄和出生体重分别为29±3周和1140±253 g。入院后体温过低的患病率为46.1％，入院后24小时内发生体温过低的发生率为38％。伴体温过低的VLBWI更有可能在阴道内出生[aOR 2.85（1.37-5.91）]，出生体重<1000 g [aOR 2.28（1.25-4.16）]，出生时需要复苏[aOR 2.20（1.23-3.94） ]，发生代谢性酸中毒[aOR 3.04（1.35-6.84）]，并在生命的第一周内死亡[aOR 4.79（1.43-16.02）]。结论VLBWI中体温过低的发生率很高，并且与预后不良有关。