Background: Developmental disabilities have been reported in infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) treated with inhaled nitric oxide (INO) or intravenous magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. This paper reports the rate of developmental disabilities at 2 years of age in a cohort of survivors of PPHN treated with INO, MgSO4, or both during the neonatal period. Methods: Sixteen survivors of PPHN were prospectively followed up. These infants were treated with intravenous MgSO4 and/or INO during the neonatal period. Neurodevelopmental assessment was carried out at 2 years of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development 2nd Edition by a developmental psychologist. Eleven (68.8%) infants completed the 2-year follow-up. Results: The median mental developmental index (MDI) and physical developmental index scores were 85 (interquartile range, IQR = 27) and 87 (IQR = 33), respectively. Two infants (18.2%) had developmental disability (MDI scores <70). Conclusion: Survivors of PPHN are at risk of developmental disabilities. Early intervention programme and long-term follow-up should be integrated in the management of these infants.

The aim of the Fourth Millennium Developmental Goal is to reduce mortality among children less than 5 years by two thirds between 1990 and 2015. Efforts are more focus on improving children’s health. The aim of this study was to describe the trend of stillbirth and neonatal deaths in University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre from 2004 to 2010. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using hospital data on perinatal mortality and monthly census delivery statistics. There were 45,277 deliveries with 526 stillbirths and neonatal deaths. More than half of the stillborn cases were classified as normally formed macerated stillbirth and prematurity was common in neonatal deaths. The trend of SB and NND was found fluctuating in this study. However, by using proportionate test comparing rate, there was a transient significant decline of stillbirth but not neonatal deaths rates between 2004 and 2006. On the other hand, the neonatal deaths rate showed significant increment from 2006 to 2008. When both mortality rates were compared using proportionate test, from the start of the study, year 2004 with end of the study, year 2010, there was no significant decline noted. Trends of stillbirth and neonatal death rates in University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre within 7 years study period did not show the expected outcome as in Millennium Developmental Goal of two thirds reduction.
Stillbirth ; Infant Mortality