Evaluation of the frequency of metabolic acidosis with respect to neonatal and gestational age

Introduction: Metabolic acidosis in neonates is a common complication associated with early-onset sepsis and contributes significantly to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Gestational and neonatal age are believed to influence acid-base homeostasis, yet evidence regarding their association with metabolic acidosis remains inconclusive. Objective: To evaluate the frequency of metabolic acidosis in relation to neonatal and gestational age among newborns presenting at Neonatal Department of Imran Idrees Teaching Hospital, Lahore Pakistan. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted from January to June 2024 enrolled a total of 241 neonates aged less than 7 days presenting with early neonatal sepsis. Age, gender and gestational age was recorded, and blood samples were collected for metabolic acidosis analysis based on pH values. Qualitative and quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Chi-square tests were applied to assess associations post-stratification by age and gestational age. Results: The mean neonatal age was 4.13 days (±1.48), with a mean gestational age of 38.15 weeks (±2.01) and a mean birth weight of 3045.33 grams (±442.49). Chi-square tests revealed non-significant associations between neonatal age groups (1-3 days and 4-6 days) and metabolic acidosis (p=0.459), as well as between gestational age groups (<37 weeks and ≥37 weeks) and metabolic acidosis (p=0.256). Conclusion: Despite observing differences in the incidence of metabolic acidosis across neonatal age and gestational age groups, this study did not find statistically significant associations between these variables and the occurrence of metabolic acidosis, underscoring the complex nature of metabolic acidosis in neonates.