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Am J Perinatol 2024; 41(11): 1484-1494
DOI: 10.1055/a-2107-1985
Original Article

Factors Associated with Need for Intravenous Glucose Infusion for the Treatment of Early Neonatal Hypoglycemia in Late Preterm and Term Neonates

Luc P. Brion 
1   Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
,
Lisa M. Scheid
1   Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
,
L Steven Brown
2   Department of Research, Parkland Health and Hospital System, Dallas, Texas
,
Patti J. Burchfield
1   Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
,
Charles R. Rosenfeld 
1   Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
› Author Affiliations Funding This study was funded by the George L. MacGregor Professorship of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center awarded to Dr. Rosenfeld.
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to determine which late-preterm (35–36 weeks' gestational age [GA]) and term neonates with early-onset hypoglycemia in the first 72 hours postnatal required a continuous glucose infusion to achieve and successfully maintain euglycemia.

Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study of late preterm and term neonates born in 2010–2014 and admitted to the Mother-Baby Unit at Parkland Hospital who had laboratory-proven blood glucose concentration < 40 mg/dL (2.2 mmol/L) during the first 72 hours of life. Among the subgroup needing intravenous (IV) glucose infusion, we analyzed which factors predicted a maximum glucose infusion rate (GIR) ≥ 10 mg/kg/min. The entire cohort was randomly divided into a derivation cohort (n = 1,288) and a validation cohort (n = 1,298).

Results In multivariate analysis, the need for IV glucose infusion was associated with small size for GA, low initial glucose concentration, early-onset infection, and other perinatal variables in both cohorts. A GIR ≥ 10 mg/kg/min was required in 14% of neonates with blood glucose value < 20 mg/dL during the first 3 hours of observation. The likelihood of a GIR ≥ 10 mg/kg/min was associated with lower initial blood glucose value and lower umbilical arterial pH.

Conclusion Need for IV glucose infusion was associated with small size for GA, low initial glucose concentration, early-onset infection, and variables associated with perinatal hypoxia–asphyxia. The likelihood of a maximum GIR ≥ 10 mg/kg/min was greater in neonates with lower blood glucose value during the first 3 hours of observation and lower umbilical arterial pH.

Key Points

  • We studied 51,973 neonates ≥ 35 weeks' GA.

  • We established a model predicting the need for IV glucose.

  • We also predicted the need for a high rate of IV glucose.

Keywords

hypoglycemia - late preterm - term - glucose infusion rate - prediction

Authors' Contributions

All authors reviewed, edited, and approved the manuscript as written. Drs. Scheid and Rosenfeld designed the study. Dr. Brion wrote the first version of the manuscript. Mr. Brown conducted statistical analyses.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 15 February 2023

Accepted: 31 May 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
07 June 2023

Article published online:
29 July 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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