Epidemiology of Neonatal Apnea in Sharqia Governorate, Egypt.

Background: Apnea is defined as the cessation of airflow. Apnea is pathologic when absent air flow is prolonged (usually 20 seconds or more) or accompanied with bradycardia. Objective: The aim of the current study is to describe the epidemiological characteristics of neonatal apnea and its association with other diseases. Patients and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted on 100 neonates admitted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Zagazig University Hospital. Participants were admitted at NICU between June 2021 and June of 2022. Study variables were age, sex, weight and primary disease group. Results: Regarding the associations between neonatal apnea and primary disease, it was found that 60% of the studied cases were premature. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was observed in 16% of the included neonates, and respiratory distress in 60% of them. Gastrooesophageal reflux disease and neonatal sepsis were observed in 2% and 4% of the studied cases, respectively. Conclusion: Our results show high association between neonatal apnea and prematurity and respiratory distress, and to lesser extent to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and neonatal sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]