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Clinical impact of neonatal hypoglycemia screening in the well-baby care

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 1331–1338 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives

To determine the proportion of well-appearing newborns screened for hypoglycemia, yield of specific screening criteria, and impact of screening on breastfeeding.

Study design

The retrospective study of well-appearing at-risk infants born ≥36 weeks’ gestation with blood glucose (BG) measurements obtained ≤72 h of age.

Results

Of 10,533 eligible well newborns, 48.7% were screened for hypoglycemia. Among tested infants, BG < 50 mg/dL occurred in 43% and 4.6% required intensive care for hypoglycemia. BG < 50 mg/dL was associated with lower rates of exclusive breastfeeding (22% vs 65%, p < 0.001). Infants screened due to late-preterm birth were most frequently identified as hypoglycemic. The fewest abnormal values occurred among appropriate weight, late-term infants of nondiabetic mothers.

Conclusion

Hypoglycemia risk criteria result in screening a large proportion of otherwise well newborns and negatively impact rates of exclusive breastfeeding. The risks and benefits of hypoglycemia screening recommendations should be urgently addressed.

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Funding

This study was partly supported by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant (Number—1K23HD088753-01A1).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Sagori Mukhopadhyay, Kelly C. Wade, Miren B. Dhudasia & Karen M. Puopolo

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Sagori Mukhopadhyay, Kelly C. Wade & Karen M. Puopolo

  3. Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Lauren Skerritt

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Joseph H. Chou

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Dmitry Dukhovny

Authors
  1. Sagori Mukhopadhyay
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  2. Kelly C. Wade
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  3. Miren B. Dhudasia
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  4. Lauren Skerritt
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  5. Joseph H. Chou
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  6. Dmitry Dukhovny
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  7. Karen M. Puopolo
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Contributions

SM contributed to study design and analysis, drafted the initial paper, and reviewed and revised the paper. KCW designed the study, contributed to data cleaning, analysis and validation, and reviewed and revised the paper. MBD collected and analyzed the data, and reviewed and revised the paper. LS collected and validated the data, and reviewed and revised the paper. DD and JHC contributed to the study design, provided expertise with analyzing data, and reviewed and revised the paper. KMP conceptualized the study, contributed to study design, and reviewed and revised the paper. All authors approved the final paper as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sagori Mukhopadhyay.

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Mukhopadhyay, S., Wade, K.C., Dhudasia, M.B. et al. Clinical impact of neonatal hypoglycemia screening in the well-baby care. J Perinatol 40, 1331–1338 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0641-1

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