Original articleAntenatal and Intrapartum Risk Factors for Seizures in Term Newborns: A Population-Based Study, California 1998-2002
Section snippets
Methods
We examined a population-based cohort using a California Office of Statewide Planning and Development (OSHPD)-linked Vital Statistics/Patient Discharge Data file created specifically to study perinatal outcomes.12 The linkage was performed using probabilistic record-linking techniques. The matched file links 97% of California birth certificates to the corresponding newborn and maternal hospital discharge record (www.health-info-solutions.com/links.html). The data set includes demographic data
Results
Of the 2 332 803 infants born at ≥36 weeks' gestation in California during the 4-year study period, 2 213 were diagnosed with seizures during the birth admission, for a population incidence of 0.95/1000. The annual incidence of seizures did not change significantly during the study period. The mean gestational age at birth was similar in newborns with and without seizures (39.8 vs 39.9 weeks; P = .60). The affected group had a higher proportion of males (57.3% vs 50.9%; P = .002) and a smaller
Discussion
This population-based study identifies antenatal and intrapartum risk factors for seizures in infants ≥36 weeks' gestation at birth. The incidence of seizures during the birth admission (0.95 per 1000) was on the lower end of what has been observed for neonatal seizures in other studies, which ranges from 1 to 3.5 per 1000 in term infants.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 The lower incidence of seizures in the present study likely reflects a difference in case definition; other studies included seizures up to
References (34)
- et al.
The epidemiology of clinical neonatal seizures in Newfoundland: a population-based study
J Pediatr
(1999) - et al.
Association of maternal fever during labor with neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality
Obstet Gynecol
(2001) - et al.
Vital statistics linked birth/infant death and hospital discharge record linkage for epidemiological studies
Comput Biomed Res
(1997) - et al.
Childbearing beyond age 40: pregnancy outcome in 24 032 cases
Obstet Gynecol
(1999) - et al.
The perinatal advantage of Mexican-origin Latina women
Ann Epidemiol
(2000) - et al.
The impact of prenatal care on neonatal deaths in the presence and absence of antenatal high-risk conditions
Am J Obstet Gynecol
(2002) - et al.
The impact of prenatal care in the United States on preterm births in the presence and absence of antenatal high-risk conditions
Am J Obstet Gynecol
(2002) - et al.
A population-based study of neonatal seizures in Fayette County, Kentucky
Neurology
(1995) - et al.
Neonatal seizures in the United States: results of the National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1980-1991
Neuroepidemiology
(1996) - et al.
Incidence of neonatal seizures in Harris County, Texas, 1992-1994
Am J Epidemiol
(1999)
Antecedents and outcome of very early neonatal seizures in infants born at or after term
Br J Obstet Gynaecol
Antenatal and intrapartum factors associated with the occurrence of seizures in term infants
Obstet Gynecol
Neonatal convulsionsIncidence and causes in the Stockholm area
Acta Paediatr Scand
Long-term prognosis in children with neonatal seizures: a population-based study
Neurology
Risk factors for neonatal seizures: a population-based study, Harris County, Texas, 1992-1994
Am J Epidemiol
Maternal risk factors for term neonatal seizures: population-based study in Colorado, 1989-2003
J Child Neurol
Cited by (0)
The work of Hannah Glass was supported by a NINDS Neurological Sciences Academic Development Award (NS01692). The authors declare no conflicts of interest.